Finding sources will depend on whether you want primary or secondary sources. Primary sources provide first-hand facts about your topic. For example, if your topic is related to literature, you would look for novels or poems as your primary sources. Secondary sources contain information from primary sources, such as journal articles; At the college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays, research papers, and other academic texts, except exams and in-class exercises. Add a citation whenever you paraphrase or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text. Example of Primary Sources Secondary Source Results Book Analysis of the book in a magazine. Table Description of the table in a book. Letters and Diaries of Martin Luther King Jr. Biography of Martin Luther King Jr. Aristotle Essay Textbook with Analysis of Aristotle's Ideas. Photographs of. Examples of secondary sources are textbooks, academic research publications, documentaries, podcasts, essays, or nonfiction books. As with any source, it is important to fully control secondary sources. Throughout the research process, you will likely use different types of sources. Common types of sources used in academic writing include: Academic journals. Books. Websites. Newspapers. Encyclopedias. The type of source you look for will depend on what stage you are at in the writing process. Why use a secondary source? You will be required to use secondary sources to support your ideas and arguments when writing academic papers. Since they are often written by experts to examine, analyze, explain, or interpret primary sources, they will help you understand a topic and offer you different perspectives;