CHS Library Commons Rebel Readers -- Rebel Researchers -- Rebel Real

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Research

Getting Started

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Research Sources

Primary Sources

Immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it. Primary sources can include:

• Texts of laws and other original documents.
• Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.
• Speeches, diaries, letters and interviews - what the people involved said or wrote.
• Original research.Datasets, survey data, such as census or economic statistics.
• Photographs, video, or audio that capture an event. Including Editorial cartoons published in the newspaper

Examples:

• Artwork
• Diary
• Interview
• Letters
• Performance
• Poem
• Artifacts
• Sound and video recordings
• Newspaper articles and cartoons
• memoirs/autobiographies

Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis. Secondary sources can include:

• Most books about a topic.
• Analysis or interpretation of data.
• Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
• Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources).

Example:

• Article critiquing a piece of art
• Books about a specific subject
• Biography
• Reviews of play (poem, artwork, etc.)
• Essays on a treaty

Databases/OnLine Resources

Have your library card number available

Citations and Copyright

Avoid plagiarism always cite your sources. Understand that items that are copyrighted are anothers intellectual property.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas and words without giving them proper credit.

Plagiarism can be intentional:

• Copying an entire post or article
• Copying a large section of text without citing it
• Claiming ideas as your own when they are not
• Repurposing your own paper for another class without instructor permission

Plagiarism can be unintentional:

• Not understanding the citation system and missing key elements of source attribution.
• Misattributing a quote or idea to wrong source.
• Not verifying the citations provided by a digital resource

You should credit:

• Words or ideas in any medium including, books, newspapers, songs, websites, TV programs, movies, letters, advertisements.
• Information through interviewing or conversing in any form. When you copy exact words or unique phrases.
• When you use someone else’s visual aids including diagrams, charts, illustrations, and pictures.
• When you reuse digital media including audio and videos. Including tiktoks, instagram post and song clips.

Social Studies - APA

Find the APA guide in the library

English - MLA

Find the MLA guide in the library

Purdue OWL

Globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Their goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.