Analyzing Secondary Sources A secondary source is the product of the process described above, once the historian has analyzed his or her primary sources, arrived to certain conclusions, and written and published the findings. A secondary source constitutes an interpretation of a past event, process, or structure based on an analysis of primary sources. Although the format and the quality of secondary sources varies greatly, historians will usually focus on articles in academic journals and historical monographs published by academic or reputable commercial presses. When reading secondary sources, attention must be paid to the following:
First:
- What is the author’s thesis? What is the author’s main idea that he or she is trying to defend? An author can have two or three main theses, often with sub theses supporting the main propositions.
Second:
- How successful is the author in defending the thesis? A critical reading of the secondary source is crucial. By simply assessing how the evidence supporting the thesis is presented, an informed and logical reader can critically evaluate the secondary source. A variety of strategies may prove useful in this regard.
- What evidence does the author use to support their thesis?
- Is there a logical connection between the evidence presented and the author’s conclusion?
- Does the author provide enough instances of evidence to support the thesis?
- Are other types of evidence that may have been overlooked?
- How does the author respond to differing interpretations from other historians?
Third:
- What does the secondary source contribute to historical knowledge? This question not only requires a careful assessment of the secondary source itself, reading of other secondary sources that discuss the same theme. In doing so, a historian will find the points of contention, departure, and debate between those who have investigated a certain topic.
Remember that secondary sources are interpretations of the past, and that the above questions help the historian to critically assess a secondary source, and ultimately determine its value.
