USING SOURCES in papers

PRIMARY SOURCE

Subject itself and anything produced by that subject

PRIMARY SOURCES
Examples:
The Constitution of the U.S. (and laws generally, whether federal or local)
President Abraham Lincoln (whether quotes, writing or speeches)
Artistic entity of some kind (including remakes) like The Godfather novel or film

SECONDARY SOURCES

Source that analyzes, studies, or comments about a specific subject

SECONDARY SOURCES
Examples:
Critique of the Constitution
Study of Lincoln's writing
Commentary on the film The Godfather

PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES

Most creative works are considered primary sources whatever their format.

Most scholarly materials are considered secondary sources (some books, journal/review articles, documentary films)

There are only RARE occasions a source may be considered BOTH a primary and secondary source like some parts of government.

THREE WAYS OF USING SOURCES IN PAPERS

SUMMARY
description of outside source no more than a paragraph long (cited)

PARAPHRASE
use of specific information from another source rephrased in author's own words (cited)

QUOTATION
the use of the exact words from an outside source enclosed in quotation marks (cited)

BEST PRACTICE PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE USING SOURCE

• Claims topic sentence
• Outside source example use cited correctly
• Comment sentence by writer tying source example to evidence point
• More source/connection sentences or wrap-up of evidence point

Signal Phrase (Lead-In)
introduction of a source in a sentence

Indirect signal phrases
"One author says..."
"One source mentions..."
"A study shows..."

Direct signal phrases
Stephen King's Dark Tower series shows..."
"Astronomer Issac Asimov suggests..."
"Suzanne Collins in the first Hunger Games book illustrates..."

QUESTIONS?