Skip to Main Content

English LibGuide

A LibGuide highlighting library databases for English literature research.

Examples

Is it a Primary or Secondary Source?

 

SUBJECT PRIMARY SECONDARY
Art and Architecture Painting by Georgia O'Keeffe Article critiquing art piece
Physical/Life Sciences Jane Goodall's Autobiography Meg Greene's:  Jane Goodall: a Biography
Engineering/Physical Sciences Patent NTIS database
Humanities Letters by Martin Luther King Web site on King's writings
Social Sciences Notes taken by clinical psychologist Magazine article about the psychological condition
Performing Arts Movie filmed in 1942 Biography of the director

From https://lib.guides.umd.edu/researchusingprimarysources

Types of Information Sources

Types of Secondary Sources

As you conduct literary research, be sure to ask your instructor what type of information they are looking for you to use to support your arguments and analysis.  Are you to use scholarly, research-based articles?  Trade or general readership sources/sites?  What about primary sources?  The chart below analyzes the different types of secondary research/sources.

For more information:

CONTACT

Email Butler University Libraries
Irwin Library: 317-940-9227
Science Library: 317-940-9937

Like us on FacebookInstagramFollow us on Twitter