Source types: arts: 2. Secondary sources

Secondary sources: are sources that are created based off, commenting on, critiquing, or reviewing primary sources or events. The authors of secondary sources were not personally present at the time of an event or creation of a source, but instead comment on the source from a removed perspective. This often contributes to a broader and more in depth understanding of the primary source. 

Secondary sources may include:

• biographies
• criticisms
• journal articles
• monographs or edited volumes (books)
• newspaper articles
• scholarly books
• systemic reviews

Adapted from: University of Toronto Scarborough, University of Toronto Libraries, and Harvard Library.

Waterloo University Library holds an extensive list of databases that can be used to find secondary sources. This list of databases can be limited by specific disciplines by using the left hand side 'subject' drop down menu (for example, Drama).

Alternatively, using the University of Waterloo Library Catalogue you can locate a variety of articles, scholarly books, e-books, and more. 

Secondary sources are important to research because they provide a commentary of what scholars think about a primary source. In some cases, secondary sources can be used to strengthen, back up, or even counter your argument. The accurate use of correctly cited secondary sources will benefit your assignment and research. 

When using any information that is not your own, it is critical that you accurately cite your sources. To do this, you can use the University of Waterloo Library Citation Guide page to find the specific guide for your discipline. Or, you can use citation management software such as Endnote, Zotero, or RefWorks outlined in the Reference Management Software Guide by the University of Waterloo Library. 

Useful module created by the University of Waterloo and held within the Online Learning Object Repository (OLOR):

• Waterloo's OLOR for Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Literature