Historic sources and scholarship in the social studies

Colorful Family
Originally uploaded by J Catlett

In the Vietnam veteran interview you will be working with what we call a primary source.

When you read a book, encyclopedia or textbook you are getting info from what we call a tertiary source, or third hand.

When you read a newspaper or see a documentary, we call it info from a secondary source.

When you observe or talk directly to an observer of an event we call it a primary source. Using primary sources in addition to secondary and tertiary sources is a goal of an effective social studies class.