primary source

(noun)

A historical document that was created at or near the time of the events studied, by a known person, for a known purpose.

Related Terms

Examples of primary source in the following topics:

  • Scholarly Sources

    • Academic research papers are typically based on scholarly sources and primary sources.
    • A primary source is an original document.
    • Primary sources can come in many different forms.
    • Secondary sources, by contrast, are books and articles that analyze primary sources.
    • Most essays will use a combination of primary and secondary sources.

  • Step 2: Researching

    • A primary source is authored by the person who conducted the study, or who created the particular theory or line of thought being discussed.
    • Secondary sources may quote primary sources to support a point or draw conclusions from examining many primary sources.
    • Most of the time, it's useful to initially consult secondary sources because they can point you toward the primary sources that most interest you.
    • For the purpose of your paper, you'll want to quote the study or the thinker (the primary source) directly — first, because you want to be sure you really understand what the author is concluding (secondary sources can misrepresent the primary source), and second, because by reading the primary source, you'll get the whole picture, rather than just the part selected by the secondary source's author.
    • With all the cautions about not using the Internet for research, if we keep in mind that we're after primary sources, we needn't be afraid of using a search engine to begin our investigation.

  • Deciphering the Conversation

    • As important as it is to find sources specific to your topic, it is equally vital to correctly assess each source's credibility—that is, to discern how trustworthy, accurate and verifiable the sources are.
    • A scholarly source is a source written by a professional in a given field.
    • Oftentimes in academic writing, you will also want to consult scholarly secondary sources to accompany primary sources.
    • Using an outdated source, even if the source has a solid reputation among other scholars, will likely provide inaccurate information regarding contemporary issues and current controversies.
    • With any source, you must also be aware of the author's possible bias.

  • Quoting Relevant Passages

    • An example of a primary-source quote might be: T.S.
    • An example of a secondary-source quote might be: T.S.
    • As you read sources that relate to your paper topic, be on the lookout for good quotes.
    • Secondary texts are called "secondary" because they comment on primary texts.
    • When you read a primary text, look for quotes that could serve as evidence to support your argument.

  • The Importance of Reliability

    • This will ensure that your source is both credible and relevant, and that the source will enhance your paper rather than undermine it.
    • The guidelines for assessing the usability of print sources and digital sources (i.e., sources accessed through the Internet) are similar.
    • One point to keep in mind for both digital and print sources is age: How old is the source?
    • Instead, it will be helpful to combine the older, primary sources with more recent, secondary scholarship.
    • Depending on your topic, you may want to avoid dot-com websites because their primary purpose tends to be commerce, which can significantly affect the content that they publish.

  • Organizing Your Research Plan

    • You should aim for a question that will limit search results to sources that relate to your topic, but will still result in a varied pool of sources to explore.
    • Another part of your research plan should include the type of sources you want to gather.
    • The possibilities include articles, scholarly journals, primary sources, textbooks, encyclopedias, and more.
    • Most search engines will let you limit search results by type of source.
    • As you accumulate sources, make sure you create a bibliography, or a list of sources that you've used in your research and writing process.

  • Overview of the IMRAD Model

    • You can cite relevant sources in the methods, discussion, and conclusion sections, but again, save the lengthy discussion of those sources for the introduction or literature review.
    • A literature review is not merely a summary of the sources you've found for your paper—it should synthesize the information gathered from those sources in order to demonstrate that work still needs to be done.
    • Explain your selection criteria early on—why did you choose each of your sources?
    • Seek out a diverse range of sources.
    • Look at primary-research reports and data sets in addition to secondary or analytical sources.

  • Paraphrasing

    • Citing sources makes you credible with both your audience and with those you're paraphrasing.
    • This kind of weaving is the primary reason to use paraphrasing.
    • If you quote only when the source will offer an air of authority to your argument, when the exact words are either historically important or particularly eloquent, or when the source is of primary importance to your topic, the quotes will carry much more weight.
    • Another part of authenticity, of course, is citing your sources correctly and completely.
    • All of this helps your reader find the source material.

  • When to Use MLA Style

    • MLA style, created by the Modern Language Association of America, is the primary citation style used for papers in literature and media studies.
    • to ensure proper attribution of ideas to their original sources, for the sake of intellectual integrity.
    • MLA style also provides guidelines for citing your sources—in fact, this is why it is called a "citation style."

  • MLA: Introduction to Citing Your Sources