Primary Sources

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When writing a research paper, the most important aspect is the sources. One could spend hours researching and writing, but if their sources are unreliable then their paper, no matter how much time was spent or how eloquent the writing is, will be sadly worthless. The best of any source one could use is a primary source. A primary source is defined as a source that was created during the time period in which one is researching. It can be anything from newspaper or journal articles, clothing, artwork, or an interview with a person. So long as it was from the period, it is considered a primary source. An easy way to think about it is that an autobiography will offer more insight to that person than a biography due to the former being written …show more content…
The next thing one should consider is how this source is biased as well as how biased it is. Most sources will have some kind of bias and while this doesn’t mean it is a bad source or completely unreliable, it is important to keep these biases in mind when analyzing. The next thing one should look at is how the source helps understand the time period or the topic. Back to the 1940s example a fashion magazine would allow one to understand what companies believed was trendy, however the clothing of an everyday civilian would allow one to see what types of clothes were actively worn. Both offer insight to the time period, but in different ways and both are valuable. The final thing to think about is how the opinions and perceptions have changed between the time period and today. This both offers a better understanding of the time period as well as how it impacted history. Using these steps when analyzing primary sources can offer a better understanding of any time period, such as The Industrial …show more content…
Beginning in the 1700s and ending around the mid the later 1800s, this was a period of change and innovation. The Industrial Revolution marks the change from an agricultural and rural society towards and urban and industrial society. It began in Great Britain due to its stability and natural resources. The demand for these resources and the products they could produce increased so much that people needed to create a more cost effective and productive way to produce them. As the industrial revolution spread throughout the world more innovations occurred. From ways to improve industry to human rights to innovations in various scientific fields. This period was full of improvements. From the creation of the Cotten Gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 to the periodic table by Dmetri Mendeleev in 1869. However, with so many advancements it is essential to narrow it down. One field which received many great discoveries, most of which are often overlooked, was the medical field. This period led to many changes in the medical community, new discoveries as well as an emphasis on research that resemble how we expect medical study’s to be conducted today, but still there are plenty of differences between the perception of medicine from practitioners and
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