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Literature Glossary

Don’t be an oxymoron. Know your literary terms.

Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.

Primary Source

Definition:

When it comes to research, primary sources are the real deal. They're totally original and were created during the time period being studied.

Got a newspaper article, photograph, diary entry, email, or Indiana Jones-style artifact? Those are all primary sources, and they're valuable because they present an unfiltered, firsthand look at what went down. Think of primary sources as evidence.

Tags: General