Using Primary & Secondary Sources

Summary

This tutorial distinguishes between primary and secondary sources, crucial for research assignments. Primary sources offer firsthand accounts like letters, diaries, and speeches, while secondary sources analyze or interpret these, often written by experts. Examples from social studies, art, and science illustrate the use of primary sources for direct experience and secondary sources for expert insights, guiding students on when to use each in their research.

Takeaways

• 📚 Primary sources are firsthand accounts like letters, diaries, speeches, or interviews, created by those who directly witnessed the events.
• 🌟 Examples of primary sources include historical documents, artworks, and raw data collected by those who experienced the subject firsthand.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Use primary sources to get a direct experience of what it was like to be there, such as reading eyewitness accounts or viewing unfiltered data.
• 📘 Secondary sources are interpretations or analyses of primary sources, often created by experts who did not directly witness the events.
• 🎨 Examples of secondary sources include books, articles, documentaries, and lectures that discuss, summarize, or analyze primary sources.
• 🧠 Use secondary sources to gather background knowledge, understand expert analysis, or gain insights into a topic from a studied perspective.
• 📈 Primary sources in science might include raw data or original observations, such as statistics on bee population decline or patent drawings.
• 🖼️ In art, primary sources could be original artworks like a painting by Mary Cassatt or a willow basket by an Apache Indian artist.
• 🗞️ For social studies, primary sources can be historical documents like a newspaper article from the Revolutionary War or a speech transcript.
• 🔍 To distinguish between primary and secondary sources, consider the origin and the nature of the information: is it firsthand or analyzed by others?
• 📖 For research, understanding the difference between primary and secondary sources is crucial for selecting appropriate materials to support your arguments.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the tutorial in the script?

The main purpose of the tutorial is to help users understand the difference between primary and secondary sources, their traits, examples, and when to use each of them.

What are primary sources according to the script?

Primary sources are firsthand accounts such as letters, diaries, speeches, or interviews, created by people who directly witnessed what they are describing.

Can you provide an example of a primary source for social studies mentioned in the script?

An example of a primary source for social studies is a newspaper article written during the Revolutionary War or a transcript of a speech given by George Washington.

What is a primary source example in the field of art?

A primary source example in the field of art could be a willow basket by an Apache Indian artist or Mary Cassatt's painting, Little Girl in Blue Armchair.

How are primary sources useful in science?

In science, primary sources can be statistics about the decline in the population of bees or a drawing from the Wright brothers' patent for their flying machine, allowing one to interpret data firsthand.

When should primary sources be used according to the script?

Primary sources should be used when you want to get a sense of what it was like to experience something in person, such as reading an eyewitness account, viewing photographs, or watching a video.

What characterizes secondary sources as described in the script?

Secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources and are not created by those who have directly witnessed what they are describing. They are often written by experts who build upon information from primary sources.

Can you give an example of a secondary source in the context of social studies?

A secondary source in social studies could be a book discussing the Revolutionary War from both American and British perspectives or an article analyzing President George Washington's speaking style.

What is the role of secondary sources in the field of art?

In the field of art, secondary sources may include articles about specific weaving techniques or books about an artist's life and paintings, providing expert analysis and interpretation.

When should secondary sources be used as per the script?

Secondary sources should be used for gathering information about a subject, building background knowledge, or reading an expert's analysis of an issue or interpretation of a work of art or literature.

What is the example of a primary source for a paper about Oregon salmon populations?

The primary source for a paper about Oregon salmon populations would be the raw data collected by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife showing salmon counts.

What is the example of a secondary source for a paper about life for children on the Oregon Trail?

The secondary source for a paper about life for children on the Oregon Trail would be a website describing the travel experience by wagon on the Oregon Trail.