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Information Literacy Content

Here you will find information literacy content for use in courses or assignments. Concepts such as research, evaluating sources, citation, and library navigation are covered.

Examples of Primary Sources

Let's consider primary sources, specifically, for a moment. Perhaps you have taken a history class and used an old diary as a primary source for a research paper, only to later take a science class where "primary source" meant something completely different! The term "Primary Source" can mean different things in different academic fields. The general definition is the same - it is an original work - but in practice, a primary source for history can look very different than a primary source for social sciences. Take a look through the information and examples provided in the infographic below.

Primary Sources by Discipline

Old books and documents in a dark library

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What are Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources?

In this section you will explore:

  • The definitions of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
  • Examples of resources often found at each of those resource levels

Resource Levels: Some Helpful Definitions

You may have heard the terms "Primary," "Secondary," and "Tertiary" sources before. They are commonly tossed around in discussions of academic research. Let's start with some definitions! The infographic below defines each level - primary, secondary, and tertiary - and offers some examples of resources you may find at each one.

Primary Secondary Tertiary Source Types

What About My Academic Field?

While the overall definitions of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources are consistent, you may find that what resources count for each of those levels can vary depending on the academic field. For example, an original map may count as a primary source for a history assignment, but it probably wouldn't count for a science assignment! There are five tabs below with infographics that give examples of what primary, secondary, and tertiary sources may look like in several common academic disciplines.