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Types of Resources Used in Research

Type casting for research sources

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Primary Sources

Primary sources were either • created during the period of time being studied or• were created later by a participant inthe events of the period being studiedor by an observer.

Primary sources allow you to get as close to the situation as possible without having been there.

• Not from the horse’s mouth.

Secondary Sources

I’ll tell you all about it, but I wasn’t there. However, I know someone who was

right in the thick of it.

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Secondary Sources

A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon. It is generally at least one step removed from the event. Examples include scholarly or popular books and articles, information in reference books, and some information in textbooks.

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• Finding Sources

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• http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/primary.html