ENGL 1100: Dr. Pine: Primary & Secondary Sources

Delaware Campus ENGL 1100 OER class

Where Can I Find Articles About My Discourse Community?

Columbus State offers close to 200 databases that you can use to search for journal and newspaper articles. See the database A-Z page for the complete list of databases (and their descriptions). From this page, you can also narrow database options by subjects.

Below are examples of databases that might be helpful in your ENGL 1100 assignments.

Primary Vs. Secondary Sources Table

Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Source Type Examples

Primary
A primary source is a first person account by someone who experienced or witnessed an event. This original document has not been previously published or interpreted by anyone else.

 

  • First person account of an event
  • Original publication
  • Speech or lecture
  • Original artwork
  • Handwritten manuscript
  • Letters or diary entries
  • Historical documents, e.g. Bill of Rights

Secondary
A secondary source is one step removed from the primary original source. The author is reexamining, interpreting and forming conclusions based on the information that is conveyed in the primary source. 

 

  • Newspaper reporting on a study
  • Review of a book
  • Biography
  • Analysis of Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat"

Finding Books about Career-Oriented Discourse Communities

The Columbus State Library has many books on careers and professions! Below are a few examples of career guides that we have in our collection. To search our catalog for others, try searching for: career guide AND (the career you are interested in)