WHAT TO DO
SUBMIT a research question.
After conferencing with your history teacher, write a clear research question that explores your artifact and its impact on American history, culture, literature, etc…
SUBMIT notes from at least 4 sources.
As you begin your research, you should focus on tertiary and secondary sources that offer background information or context for your artifact. Once you have a stronger sense of your research, narrow your focus with additional secondary and primary sources.
On the sidebar, you will find examples of some library resources where you can find primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, however, most databases have all 3 types of sources available. See our full list of Upper School databases and subscriptions here, which includes additional newspapers, videos, and research databases.
What is a Tertiary Source?
Tertiary sources locate, identify, and summarize primary and secondary sources to provide a general overview of a topic. The information is usually compiled and presented in factual manner, without additional analysis. It is common for a tertiary source to not be attributed to a single author.
Tertiary sources can be found in print and digital formats and may include:
It is important to note that a tertiary source may be used as a secondary or primary source depending on the context of your research.
WHAT IS A PRIMARY SOURCE?
Primary sources are original documents or artifacts which provide first-hand accounts or individual expressions of an event, movement, era, scientific study, etc. These sources present new information or discoveries and were created concurrently with the topic or time being studied. They allow researchers to get close to events without the information being filtered through later interpretation. Primary sources may include (but are not limited to):
WHAT IS A SECONDARY SOURCE?
Secondary sources offer analysis and commentary of events, places, and people, often using primary sources. They provide an interpretation of these sources, usually well past the time they were created or the event being studied. Since secondary sources are further removed from the source, they can offer critique and in-depth discussion of events and ideas. Secondary sources may include: