[教你如何写出完美的论文--系列教程(10.DVD)].02.Starting.Your.Research.pdf


Part 1: Primary and Secondary Sources
As you do your background reading, look for research sources that help to answer your research question
and either:
* strengthen,
* challenge,
* modify, or
* illustrate
your working thesis. These may come in the form of primary or secondary sources.
Primary sources are “raw materials” that directly relect the topic you are writing about. They are usually
created by participants or others who lived at the time of the events you are writing about.
Secondary sources are reports of the research done by other people into your topic. They are usually writ-
ten after the events you are writing about by people who didn’t participate in or witness those events.
Part 2: Your First Source: The Library
Library collections typically offer four main categories of materials:
* Books
* Periodicals
* Other printed materials
* Non-printed materials