Secondary Sources

Question: What is a secondary source?

According to Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, "Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis. Secondary sources can include:

    • Most books about a topic.
    • Analysis or interpretation of data.
    • Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
    • Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources)."

In an ELA class, a secondary source would includes interpretation, discussions and analysis of the original book or text being examined

Use our online library catalog to explore the books available in the learning commons.

You can explore hundreds of thousands of full-length, digital articles remotely. Take a look at Stoughton High School’s high quality Gale database collections of critical analyses, scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedia articles online.

(Power Search ONLY does a limited search. If the collection you want to search isn't included, click on the collection you want to search first, then conduct your search.)

Access a digital collection of academic journals, books, and primary sources.

Click here while signed into your S.H.S. Google account for password to access JSTOR .