Posted by: JollyLibrarian on: February 24, 2009
Today, we’ll look at the second part of Standard 1. Once the student articulates the need for information, it’s time to identify the types and formats of potential sources.That’s a very fancy way of saying you need to know the types of sources available to you.
There are many ways to organize sources:
Primary vs. Secondary Sources: (Primary sources are the original materials that are studied and analyzed. Secondary sources are works that analyze and interpret other works. For example, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a primary source. An essay in a journal discussing racism in the novel is a secondary source. Depending on the assignment, you may use one or both of these types of sources.
You may need to develop some primary source material of your own:
Popular vs. Scholarly: Watch this tutorial from Vanderbilt University that helps to distinguish between the two.
Current vs. Historical: Sometimes you need the most updated information for a paper. At that point, you probably want to limit your sources to the last couple of years. Other times, you may need to go back. For example, you want to find out what critics said during Roosevelt’s New Deal. You would want to look at articles from the 1940s.
As smart researcher, you have to evaluate the costs and benefits of getting information. In the 21st century, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to check every source on a subject. Therefore, you have to make some tough decisions. At what point have I done enough interviewing to make sure I’ve covered the topic? How many articles do I read before I have the full story? Is reading a summary of Holocaust survivors’ experiences enough or should I consult actual diaries and journals? There is always one more source to consult; at some point, you have to say enough.
And on that, I’m saying enough for today!
