Template:Source text
A source text is text (usually written but sometimes oral) from which information is derived.
In historiography, distinctions are commonly made between three kinds of source texts:
- Primary source texts are first-hand written evidence of history. Note that other first-hand, primary sources may also be evidence that is not written or textual, such as archaeological findings: pottery, coins, walls...
- Secondary sources are written accounts of history based upon the evidence from primary sources.
- Tertiary sources are compilations based upon primary and secondary sources. These are often meant to present known information in a convenient form with no claim to originality. Common examples are encyclopedias and textbooks.
See also:
- Source#Information ("in research").
- Primary source
- Secondary source
- Tertiary source
- Historiography and History
- Wikisource
External links:
- Wikisource – The Free Library – is the Wikimedia project that collects, edits, and catalogues source texts.