What Is A Secondary Source In An Essay?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A secondary source, then, is

a source that has also done analysis of the same (or a similar) topic

. You will then use this source to discuss how it relates to your argument about the primary source. A secondary source is a mediary between you and the primary source.

How do you identify a secondary source in an essay?

  1. the online catalog,
  2. the appropriate article databases,
  3. subject encyclopedias,
  4. bibliographies,
  5. and by consulting with your instructor.

What is an example of a secondary source?

Secondary sources describe, summarize, or discuss information or details originally presented in another source; meaning the author, in most cases, did not participate in the event. … Examples of a secondary source are:

Publications such as textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias, almanacs

.

Why is an essay a secondary source?

Secondary Sources include journal articles, books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, reviews, newspaper articles, specific essays, etc. Most research papers are based on secondary sources as

they build on the research or studies others have done

. … Most secondary sources analyze the material or restate the works of others.

What are primary and secondary sources in an essay?


A primary source gives you direct access to the subject of your research

. Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Examples include journal articles, reviews, and academic books. A secondary source describes, interprets, or synthesizes primary sources.

What are 5 examples of secondary sources?

  • journal articles that comment on or analyse research.
  • textbooks.
  • dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
  • books that interpret, analyse.
  • political commentary.
  • biographies.
  • dissertations.
  • newspaper editorial/opinion pieces.

What is the difference between primary source and secondary source?

Primary sources are firsthand, contemporary accounts of events created by individuals during that period of time or several years later (such as correspondence, diaries, memoirs and personal histories). … Secondary sources often use

generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources

.

How do you know if something is a secondary source?

Common examples of secondary sources include academic books, journal articles, reviews, essays, and textbooks. … If a

source gives you an overview of background information or presents another researcher’s ideas on your topic

, it is probably a secondary source.

Is a database a secondary source?

Secondary sources include

books and articles about a topic

. … Databases help you identify articles in scholarly journals or books on a particular topic.

Is hearsay a secondary source?

Secondary sources, theoretically, would

be hearsay, the writings of others, and materials of that ilk

. … Even when a source is an original document, its information might be hearsay. Often, derivative sources will convey firsthand information—as, for example, a transcription or translation of a document.

What is secondary research for an essay?

Secondary research or desk research is

a research method that involves using already existing data

. Existing data is summarized and collated to increase the overall effectiveness of research. Secondary research includes research material published in research reports and similar documents.

Is it OK to use secondary sources?

Citing a source within a source (citing a secondary source) is generally acceptable within academic writing as long as these citations are kept to a minimum. You should use a

secondary source only if you are unable to find or retrieve the original source of information

.

What is a primary source for an essay?

Primary Sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it. Primary sources can include:

Texts of laws and other original documents

. Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.

What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Primary data refers to the first hand data gathered by the researcher himself.

Secondary data means data collected by someone else earlier

. Surveys, observations, experiments, questionnaire, personal interview, etc. Government publications, websites, books, journal articles, internal records etc.

What is primary source and secondary sources in history?

Examples of primary sources include

diaries, personal journals, government records

, court records, property records, newspaper articles, military reports, military rosters, and many other things. In contrast, a secondary source is the typical history book which may discuss a person, event or other historical topic.

What are the 3 sources of information?

This guide will introduce students to three types of resources or sources of information:

primary, secondary, and tertiary

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.