How do I recognize primary, secondary, and tertiary sources?

Secondary sources

• translate, repackage, restate, analyze, evaluate,  critique, or interpret primary sources.
• discuss the evidence provided by primary sources.
• are one or more steps removed from the event or information they refer to.
• are written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.

Examples of secondary sources include

• All nonfiction books and magazine articles except autobiography.
• An article or website that critiques a novel, play, painting, or piece of music.
• An article or web site that synthesizes expert opinion and several eyewitness accounts for a new understanding of an event.
• The literature review portion of a journal article.
• A journal article that discusses, restates, or analyzes a study or other original research.

Watch this video to learn about secondary sources.

• For help finding resources, use the information in the library's playbooks. Librarians can help you understand the playbooks, but they cannot conduct research for you.
• For help with formatting citations, please consult the library's citation styles playbooks. Please note the librarians cannot help you with citation generators or with any citation guide other than the library's. 
• For help with composition issues (such as spelling, grammar, flow, etc.), please visit the Writing Center.
• If you have questions, please email the  librarians at reference@pvcc.edu or connect via chat. If your section has an embedded librarian, contact that specific librarian.