Sourcing

Secondary Advantages and DIsadvantages

Primary Advantages and Disadvantages

Guidelines for Sourcing

·      Questions to ask when sourcing o   Who wrote this? o   What is the author’s perspective? o   When was it written? o   Where was it written? o   Why was it written? o   Is it reliable? Why? Why not? o   What perspective(s) might be missing from this document? o   How does this document help me understand              ?

·      Language to use when sourcing o   The author probably believes . . o   I think the audience is . . . o   Based on the source information, I think the author might . . . o   I do/don’t trust this document because . . .

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary Source A document or physical object that was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types of primary sources include: •      ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records  •      CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art  •      RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Secondary Sources A document that interprets and analyzes primary or secondary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include: •      PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias