60 Application: Start Finding Sources
Practice Finding Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Now that you know how to distinguish between primary and secondary sources, it’s time to locate one of each type of source related to your research topic.
Open up a Google Doc or a Microsoft Word document, and complete the following steps:
- Provide a link to each source type. If your source does not have a link, you can take a picture of it and insert the picture into your file or provide a thorough description of the source.
- Write a sentence or two for each source indicating what makes it either a primary or a secondary source.
- Count how many primary versus secondary sources you have, tallying those at the top of the page.
- Ask yourself, “Do I need more primary or secondary sources? What will my audience expect me to have?”
Based on how you answer these questions, you’ll have a better sense of whether or not the sources you’ve collected are supporting your research plan or goals. Talk with your instructor if you’re unsure how to proceed after evaluating the sources you have.