Primary and Secondary Sources

autobiography

A book about yourself, written by you (this would require you to do research, and make sure dates and facts double-checked) Yes, this is definitely a primary source.

encyclopedia

Printed encyclopedias are updated every 10 years. (secondary source)

secondary source

a book or article by an author who is NOT an eyewitness or a participant in the historical event or period. Secondary source

database

a computer program that links significant information together-like Google...a tool (but NOT a source) to find sources

journal

a personal account of an event or person's life or interests at the time of the events (primary source)

Internet

an electronic communications network that connects computer around the world (a tool, not a source)

memoir

how one remembers one's own life (no specific research is required, just stuff someone remembers and wants to share with others) This is written by the author and will hopefully direct you to BETTER sources with dates, facts and specifics.

primary source

materials directly related to the topic by time or participation. These include letters, speeches, diaries, newspaper articles from the time, oral history interviews, documents, photographs, artifacts, or anything else that provides CONTEMPORARY accounts about a person or event. This picture is a primary source because it was taken when this trolley was in use.

biography

The story of a person's life that is written by someone else. (usually a secondary source, but if the author was a CONTEMPORARY like a friend on Muhammad's this would be a primary source.)