Created by Ray W. Howard Library, Shoreline Community College (2013).
Often referred to as "first hand" accounts or "original" records, primary sources are the evidence historians use to build interpretations of the past.
Most primary sources are created at the time an historical event occurred, while others, such as autobiographies, are produced long after the events they describe.
Here are some examples:
| maps | oral histories | artifacts |
| letters | diaries | speeches |
| newspapers | autobiographies | government records |
| statistical data | photographs | motion pictures |
| sound recordings | advertisements |
A good research paper begins with a good question. It is not just an explanation or report about a topic.
1. Brainstorm 3 or 4 possible research questions for your topic.
Ask yourself: What do I want to know? List the questions you have thought of.
2. Draw up an outline of 3 or 4 points (your outline) you will need to cover to respond to your chosen research question.
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