Jennifer Greengart
SLM521
Web Dropin #4
Primary VS. Secondary Sources: Which One Does the
Better Job?
When discussing how to obtain information via references, we discussed the different types of sources that provide information. Some sources are sources that come directly from the person who witnessed the experience; these are known as primary sources. Examples of primary sources are: diaries, journals, logs, etc. Secondary sources, on the other hand, come from a secondary source (one that did not witness the information first-hand). Examples are: encyclopedias, newspaper articles, reports, etc.
When conducting research on a given topic, which sources do you think would provide you with the most accurate information?
Visit the following websites to hear the different opinions regarding the use of both primary and secondary sources:
Advantages of Secondary Sources
Evaluating Primary and Secondary Sources
Then, write a 250 word document, explaining the different views. After what you’ve researched, what is your opinion of primary and secondary sources? Which ones provide the most accurate information? Which would you use when writing up a research project?