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PHL101 Haddix

A class guide for PHL101

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are uninterpreted, original, or new materials. 

Examples include:

  • Original documents* (manuscript, poem, correspondence, letters)
  • Speech
  • Data from a study
  • Autobiography
  • Peer-reviewed journal article that report new findings
  • Interview
  • Artwork, music, play, movie

* Many primary sources are presented as books – but they are reprints of the original documents!

What are secondary sources?

Secondary sources are information sources about primary sources. Secondary sources interpret, explain, describe, or draw conclusions based on works written by others. Examples include:

  • Most books
  • Textbook
  • Dictionary, encyclopedia
  • Biography
  • Peer-reviewed journal article that critique others’ work
  • Literature review
  • Website
  • Art, book, movie, or theater review
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