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Imagine your teacher asks you to write an essay about the Civil War. What is the first thing you do? You might read a book about the Civil War. You might look up websites, videos, or museum exhibits. The objects you use to find information are called source material. It is important to use different types of source material to get information and ideas on your subject.
The source material is the collection of objects a writer uses to gather information and ideas. Sources can be written, spoken, audio, or visual materials.
Source material includes anything you use to get information and ideas. Here are some examples of different sources you might use:
Written materials can be found in print form (books, newspapers, and handouts) or digital form (websites, blogs, and social media posts).
Look to the chart below for more examples of source material:
Source Material Example Chart, StudySmarter Originals
The source material is important to learn about your subject and support your argument. You can't write an essay about the Civil War if you do not use sources to learn about it!
Where do you get information from? You get it from sources. You can use a variety of sources to learn something. When writing, use these different sources of information to explain your subject.
You are writing an essay about the effects of drought on California farming. You might use the US Department of Agriculture's reports on California droughts to learn about this subject.
But one source is usually not enough. You could also use news articles and interviews with California farmers. Each source gives you a different perspective.
Sources not only help us learn information. They also help us use that information to form opinions on a subject. You can use sources to convince the reader you are right.
You are writing an essay on the best way to reduce drought damage. You might use some of the same sources as in the previous example. These sources help you form an opinion on the subject (your argument).
After looking at these sources, you decide the best way to deal with drought is to invest in soil health. You use statistics from USDA reports to show how important soil health is. You also use quotes from interviews to demonstrate how farmers agree with you.
There are three major types of source material: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Each is helpful in its own way.
You get different types of information from different sources. Each source type has its own uses. See the table below to learn more about the different source types.
| Type of Source Material | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources | A primary source is a source that comes directly from the subject or era you are writing about. Primary sources give perspectives on events and experiences. They give you an idea of how things happened. Use primary sources to interpret and analyze your subject. |
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Secondary sources | A Secondary Source is a source that is about the subject but does not come from that subject or era. Secondary sources give interpretations on how and why things happen. They offer an outside look at things.Use secondary sources to supplement your own interpretations and analyses. |
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Tertiary sources | A tertiary source is a source that helps you find other sources. Tertiary sources are containers for other sources. They offer you a way to find information.Use tertiary sources to find primary and secondary sources. |
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The type of source material you need depends on how you plan to use it. It helps to think about the relationships between the three types of sources. When finding sources, you can start at the outer edge of the circle, tertiary sources. Use these to find the secondary sources. Then, work your way toward primary sources when needed.
Relationships Between Source Types, StudySmarter Originals
Different types of sources serve different purposes. Use the following scenarios to help you decide what you need as you write:
You might need a tertiary source if...
Quick Tip! DO NOT use tertiary sources for information or ideas. For example, you do not want to use information from Wikipedia. Anyone can edit Wikipedia, so the information is sometimes wrong. But that doesn't mean you can't use it as a tertiary source!
You might need a secondary source if...
Quick Tip! Be sure not to pass off others' ideas as your own. Give credit where it's due. Secondary sources offer us helpful interpretations. Make sure it's clear whose interpretation you are using. For example, instead of writing "I think Mark Twain used dialect in a unique way," you might write "I agree with Author A that Mark Twain's use of dialect was unique."
You might need a primary source if...
When choosing sources, it's important to make sure they are credible. Credibility is a source's trustworthiness.
To check a source for credibility, consider the following:
You can use source material to summarize ideas, paraphrase explanations, and quote other people. Together, these different uses support your argument and explain your ideas.
There are three key ways to use source materials in writing: summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Try using a blend of all three in your essay. Let's take a look at these different uses with examples:
| Source Material Use | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Summary | To summarize a source is to provide a general overview of its ideas. Think of it as your interpretation of the source. When summarizing a source:
| CNN provides a history of the Post-It note that starts in the 1960s. They trace the history through its creation as a removable adhesive to the wide-selling product of today. |
Paraphrase | To paraphrase a source is to translate a key idea, concept, or quote from a source. When paraphrasing a source:
| According to CNN, people did not initially believe in the potential of the removable adhesive used in Post-It notes. OR:According to CNN, people did not initially believe in the potential of the "removability characteristic " of the adhesive used in Post-It notes. |
Quote | To quote a source is to use the author's exact words to support your own ideas.When quoting a source:
| CNN reports the inventor of the Post-It note "struggled for years to find a use for his invention," and could not convince anybody of "the merits of his creation."1 |
Quick Tip! Use a balance of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes in your writing. Balance keeps your work understandable and engaging.
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Source material is the collection of objects a writer uses to gather information and ideas. Sources can be written, spoken, audio, or visual materials.
Examples of source materials include books, journal articles, photographs, and government reports.
A source is an object from which you get information or ideas for your writing.
The three types of source material are: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources.
You should use source materials to learn about the subject and support your argument.
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