Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources
* Primary Source: The original source of information. For example, a research paper, a book, or a historical document.
* Secondary Source: A source that discusses or analyzes a primary source. For example, a review article, a textbook, or a news article.
How to Cite a Secondary Source
When you want to cite a source that you haven't read directly but have found information about it in another source, you need to do two things:
1. Cite the secondary source: Include the author, year, and page number of the source where you found the information.
2. Mention the original source: You should indicate that the information is from a secondary source and give credit to the original author.
Example
Let's say you're writing a paper and you want to cite a study by Smith (2018) about the effects of climate change. You found this information in a review article by Jones (2021).
Here's how you would cite it:
In-text citation:
* According to Smith (2018, as cited in Jones, 2021), climate change has a significant impact on...
Reference list:
* Jones, J. (2021). A review of climate change research. *Journal of Environmental Science*, 55(1), 1-15.
Important Notes
* Direct quotes: If you're quoting directly from the secondary source, use quotation marks and include the page number.
* Find the primary source: Ideally, try to locate the original source (Smith, 2018) and verify the information for accuracy.
* Specific styles: Different citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA) have specific guidelines for citing secondary sources. Consult your style guide for the correct format.
By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite sources that you've found in other sources and avoid plagiarism.