Secondary Sources: Intro

Review of Primary Sources

• Primary Sources: source that is also your subject of study; the original words or ideas of a writer or researcher; “first-hand” information

• Examples: works of literature, speeches, letters, original research (experiments, surveys, interviews, etc.)

Secondary Sources

• Secondary Sources: sources written by others about primary materials or some other topic; “second-hand” information

• Examples: scholarly books and essays, periodical articles (newspapers, magazines, journals), reputable websites

Using Secondary Sources to “enlarge and refine” your ideas (Barnet, Bellanca, and Stubbs 108).

• Enlarge your ideas– Achieve a greater understanding of your topic and

what others have to say about it – “interact[ing] with the scholarly community

surrounding your topic” (IVCC Stylebook, “Documenting Sources”).

• Refine your ideas– Make your essay more insightful and credible– “Without sources, the essay shows only your

interpretation of the topic” (IVCC Stylebook, “Documenting Sources).

– “to support your ideas” and to “show that other scholars share your perspective” (IVCC Stylebook, “Documenting Sources”).

Secondary Sources: Periodicals

• Published periodically (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly)

• Newspapers• Magazines• Journals

Magazines

• Examples: Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated, People, etc.

• Coverage: General or specialized• Authors: Staff or guest writers• Readers: General public• Purpose: Make a profit, inform, entertain • Characteristics: Relatively short articles, frequent

pictures, glossy cover• Example

Journals (Peer-Reviewed)

• Examples: Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of the American Medical Association, The Novel, Southern Literary Journal, etc.

• Coverage: Specialized• Authors: Professors, researchers, professionals• Readers: Professional/academic community (including

students)• Purpose: Promote knowledge and scholarship• Characteristics: Lengthy articles, evidence of substantial

research• Example

Essay 3 Secondary Source Requirements

• See Task #4 of the Essay 3 Assignment linked from the course page.

Practice Exercise

1. Review the sample literary outline.2. Read the source provided.3. Highlight passages that are relevant to the points on the

sample outline.4. In the margins of the article, note in which paragraph

the passage would most likely be included (family, Armand, consequences).