Primary sources are the thing that you're studying, or firsthand evidence regarding the thing that you're studying.

Here's an example. If you're studying Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth, then your primary sources might be...

• The Wretched of the Earth itself (the thing that you're studying).
• Interviews with Fanon
• Reviews of the book
• Responses to the book that were written by others

Here's another example. If you're preparing for a debate about whether some books should be banned, then your primary sources might be...

• Statistics showing which types of books are most commonly banned, and for what reasons
• Laws regarding the banning of books
• Opinion pieces (Be careful! Opinion pieces can be used as primary sources only to establish that someone holds an opinion, not as evidence that that opinion is true.)

Some primary sources can be found in Simpson Library's collection or databases. Many primary sources can be found online for free. For help finding primary sources, ask a librarian.