Primary & Secondary Source Research Grid
Primary Source (Internet)
Primary Source (Print Source)
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Citation
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Citation
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Fact 1
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Fact 1
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Fact 2
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Fact 2
Reference Work (Print)
Periodical (Print or Internet)
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Citation
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Citation
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Fact 1
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Fact 1
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Fact 2
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Fact 2
Book (Print)
Oral History (Print or Internet)
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Citation
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Citation
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Fact 1
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Fact 1
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Fact 2
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Fact 2
Image (Photo, Art, Political Cartoon)
Map (Historic or Contemporary)
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Citation
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Citation
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Observation/Fact 1
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Observation/Fact 1
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Observation/Fact 2
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Observation/Fact 2
A primary source is a document, speech, or other sort of evidence written, created or otherwise produced
during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. Examples include:
autobiographies, diaries, e-mail, interviews, letters, minutes, news film footage, official records, photographs,
raw research data, speeches.
Examples of primary sources:
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The Declaration of Independence — U. S. history
African-American Poetry (Harlem Renaissance) — U. S. history & literature
Diary of Anne Frank — experiences of Jews in World War II
Film footage of the assassination of President J. F. Kennedy
National Security Data Archives — U. S. history declassified documents
The following questions are asked about primary sources:
What is the tone?
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Who is the intended audience?
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What is the purpose of the publication?
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What assumptions does the author make?
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What are the bases of the author's conclusions?
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Does the author agree or disagree with other authors of the subject?
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Does the content agree with what you know or have learned about the issue?
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Where was the source made?
Secondary sources provide interpretation and analysis of primary sources. Secondary sources are one step
removed from the original event. Secondary sources include: Britannica Online Encyclopedia (online),
American National Biography (database), literary criticism analyzing a play, poem, novel, or short story,
magazine or newspaper articles about events or people, political commentary analyzing an election or
politician (via Lexis-Nexis database), textbooks such as Boyer’s American Nation, and Nash’s American
People. Note: Textbooks are generally not cited on a bibliography as most teachers/professors “assume”
they are being read regularly by students.
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