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Research Basics: Examples of Information Sources

MC Hammer

Primary sources
The actual recording of MC Hammer songs
MC Hammer's writings
An interview with MC Hammer
A video on VH1
A first-hand account of a performance 
MC Hammer's own web site
 
Secondary sources  
A biography  about MC Hammer
A review of one of his CDs
A magazine article about MC Hammer
A documentary i.e. VH1’s “Behind the Music"
 
Tertiary sources 
An index or database 
A library catalog to search for books

More Examples

SUBJECT PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
Music Interview with Gwar Article critiquing song Oxford Music Online database
Chemistry/Life Sciences Madame Curie diary Monograph on Curie life Abstract of Curies work
Literature Poem by a writer literary critique Literary Index
Humanities Letters by Martin Luther King Web site on King's writings Encyclopedia on Civil Rights Movement
Criminal Law/Court Case Brief filed by lawyer Newspaper article critiquing brief Legal Collection
The Arts/Actor Birth Certificate of an actor Biography of actor IMDb.com database about actor