True research being done by students is becoming a lost "art form." Gone are the days when students would do their reports by paraphrasing notes taken from an encyclopedia. Now, using a computer, a five-page research paper can be created in just as many minutes.
Technology, usually considered a secondary source, has allowed easy access to information. However, it has diminished the ability of many students to recognize and evaluate primary source material.
Primary sources are firsthand accounts communicated by someone concerning his or her experiences or observations. These methods of communication may include letters, diary entries, speeches, photographs, legal records and artistic works concerning an event.
Secondary sources are materials written after the fact. People who do not actually witness an event do this writing. These writers often gather information from a number of different primary sources. After their research, they provide analysis, explanations and reflections. Examples are encyclopedias (print and electronic), magazines, newspaper articles, web site information, textbooks, historical novels, and nonfiction media.
What type of source is used depends on the researcher. Not all sources have equal merit. In all cases, the researcher should consider whether the source is reliable, if the information is up-to-date, does the date on the material matter for the type of research being done, and is the author biased.
Happy searching!
Mrs. T. Reiter
K-12 Teacher Librarian
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