Which is it?
| Popular | Scholarly | Reference |
| What is a popular source? | What is a scholarly source? | What is a reference source? |
| news, magazines, blogs/feeds | an article written by a professional in the field |
encyclopedia, dictionary, fact book, biographical |
| Examples: | Examples: | Examples: |
| NY Times & Rolling Stone, Reddit | Journal of American Dental Association | Wikipedia, Britannica, Credo |
| Best Library Resource | Best Library Resource | Best Library Resource |
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What's the difference?
| Primary | Secondary | Tertiary |
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A primary source is the original item produced during that time. |
A secondary source is considered the commentary on an event, place, person or thing. |
A tertiary source is a reference source that includes background or basic information such as: who, what, where, when |
| Examples: | Examples: | Examples: |
Such as: The Declaration of Independence, a letter from Elizabeth Barrett Browning to her husband, a photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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(Note: Many of these are also considered secondary sources.) |
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BEST BETS:
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Sample Papers
