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How to Cite
Lenburg, Jeff. "Understanding Your Source." Writer's Reference Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 17 Apr. 2025. <http://fofweb.infobase.com/wrc/Detail.aspx?iPin=GTR013>.
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Understanding Your Source


First, you need to understand what type of source you are using to determine its overall credibility. In the world of research, there are two types of sources: Primary sources and secondary sources.

Primary sources are published material, such as novels, speeches, eyewitness accounts, letters, interviews, and autobiographies, featuring the writer's original words, opinions and viewpoints, with no opposing view.

Secondary sources consist of works written by a third party, providing objective commentary, interpretations, criticism, evaluations, and analysis published in books, government documents, journals, newspaper reports, newsletters, magazine articles, and others, about the individual or subject you are researching.

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