Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are written by scholars or observers, after the fact, and interpret or analyze primary sources or events. These sources are at least one step removed from what they are describing.

Examples include:

• Scholarly or popular books which provide a summary of events or synthesize information from many primary sources
• Newspaper, magazine or journal articles which analyze events or ideas
• Textbooks, encyclopedias, essays, reviews, reference books

How are they used?

• Get background info and understand the scope of a topic
• See what others have discussed, or get opinions
• Learn how recent events affect or fit into the larger picture
• Understand the significance of events, data, or works of literature and art