Resource Types
You may have heard of various sources described as primary or secondary. These are categories that help scholars determine the use case for different types of materials that they might cite in their papers and projects.
Primary Sources
Records of events or evidence as they are first described or actually happened without any interpretation or commentary. Information that is shown for the first time or original materials on which other research is based. Display original thinking, report new discoveries, or share fresh information.
Examples include:
- Diaries, letters, & personal narratives
- Theses & dissertations
- Original artwork
- Interviews
- Original research reported in scholarly articles
Secondary Sources
Offer an analysis, interpretation, or restatement of primary sources and present an argument or perspective. Often presents synthesis, interpretation, commentary, or evaluation to further the creator's argument or perspective. Intended to describe or explain primary sources.
Examples include:
- Textbooks
- Edited works
- Books and articles that interpret or review research works
- Literary criticism & interpretation
- Biographies
Source Type in Context
Whether a source is primary or secondary depends on how you use it and the topic of your paper! If you’re not sure, ask a librarian for help!
Sources @ BU
Most BU writing program courses will use BEAM/BEAT to help you understand the context of your sources. You will find that Exhibit sources are often primary while Argument and Methodology/Theory sources are often secondary. Check out the Applying BEAM/BEAT page for more information!
Adapted from University of Minnesota Crookston Library (n.d.). Primary, secondary, and tertiary Sources. https://crk.umn.edu/library/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-sources
Scholarly or Popular?
| Characteristics | Popular Resources | Scholarly Resources | Community Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audience | general public | scholars in the field | within the community or the public |
|
Author |
member of the public, a journalist, or an author | someone with academic expertise in the field | a member of the community of interest |
| Published | immediately or following editing | following extensive research, editing, and peer review | wide range of formats |
Scholarly Resources
Scholarly Books & Journal Articles
Written by people with academic expertise in the field. Use these to understand current and past research on your topic. Academic books are more broadly focused than articles. Use books to understand background information and the context of your topic. Articles will be narrowly focused and include jargon. Be sure to check the bibliography for other scholarly sources.
Dissertations & Theses
Written by graduating PhD and Masters students, these represent a deep exploration of a niche topic. Contains an extensive works cited section.
Literature & Systematic Reviews
Review of scholarship on a topic, including information gaps and opportunities for further research.
Popular Resources
News, Media, & General Trade Books
Created by journalists and authors, these resources go through an editing process. Use these to understand the wider framing of conversations around your topic at a given point in time.
Social Media, Streaming, & Other Online Conversations
Unmediated online sources can help you understand conversations around your topic in the public sphere. This is a way to find direct information from opinions to contemporaneous reactions involving your topic.
Community Resources
Self-Published Materials
Examples include: Grassroots Archives, Indigenous Knowledge, Oral Histories, Nonprofit Advocacy Groups, Zines
Types of knowledge outside academia are often devalued or excluded from research and scholarship. Look for community voices on your topic by thinking outside the box of traditional scholarship.
Look for voices inside of impacted communities. This could include social media posts or zines written by and for a particular group of people.
