Finding Primary Sources: Intro

Research involves examining primary sources (original material) to test and validate the point of view or interpretation of the material later published as a reference work or secondary source.

A primary source is direct evidence to the event, person, or subject of research, however on its own it may be difficult to interpret.

Use primary sources to:

• find evidence that challenge interpretations or support one scholar's interpretation over that of another,
• write an interpretation of your own, 
• look for more primary sources for evidence to confirm or refute your thesis.

When you present your conclusions, you will have produced another secondary source to aid others in their research.

Primary sources are the foundations of histories. Evaluation of the sources is essential to scholarly research.

• Who was the author and who was the audience of the primary source?
• What was the purpose of the document or motive for writing it?
• Does the writer have an obvious bias?
• When was this document written, and what was the effect of the document on history?
• What affect did the document have on the your view of this topic or event?
• Compare the primary source information with secondary source information.

Information accessed using the internet needs to be critically evaluated. Be sure to check out our immensely helpful Evaluation page!