Original Sources

• Original sources (sometimes called "primary sources") are those sources that researchers consider to be the least "corrupted" by interpretation. A biography by a professor about Thomas Jefferson is secondary; letters and diary entries by Jefferson are considered primary, or "original," as they were written by the subject himself.
• Government Publications are sometimes considered original sources because they are often produced by government departments or agencies and represent legislative activity or the conclusions of committee hearings.
• In science, raw data is analogous to "original sources" in the humanities. Scientists take raw data and interpret what it means using the scientific method.
• Since original sources are so "authoritative," they are, if used properly, considered the best evidence you can present for your argument.