Nonfiction Sources

Nonfiction Sources

By Beverley Cornish

A source is where a reader gets information.

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There are two types of sources - primary and secondary​

What is a source?

• ​A person who witnessed, participated in, and/or created the information

• The original source of the information​

Primary

Source​

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• Information that has been passed down

• The source got the information from another source and passed it on

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​Secondary Source

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• Textbook

• Journals

• Newspaper

• Atlas

• Almanac

• Interview

• Letters​

• Biography

• Autobiography

• Memoir​

• Dictionary

• Thesaurus

• Encyclopedia

• Internet

• Diary​

Types of sources

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• Nonfiction writing by about the life of someone ​else

• Secondary source​

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​Biography

• Nonfiction writing about the author's life

• Primary source

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​Autobiography

• Written account of events and memories from an author's life

• Focus on personal experience, feelings, and emotions

• Primary source​

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​Memoir

• Book that contains the definitions of words

• Secondary source​

​Dictionary

• A book that contains synonyms and antonyms of words

• Secondary source​

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​Thesaurus

• A set of books that contains information about all subjects

• ​Secondary source

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​Encyclopedia

• The global information system that allows computers to exchange information and communicate

• ​Primary and secondary source

​The Internet

• A handwritten recording of an individual's personal thoughts and feelings about his/her daily experiences

• ​Primary source

​Diary

• Books used as the main source of information for the study of a particular subject in schools

• Secondary source​

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​Textbooks

• A magazine that deals with a particular subject or professional activity

• Secondary source​

​Journals

• Printed publication of folded, unstapled sheets that contains news, feature articles, advertisements, and correspondence​

• Primary and secondary source​

​Newspaper

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• Book of maps

• Secondary source​

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​Atlas

• Annual publication including information like weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, tide tables and the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon

• ​Tailored for specific groups, such as farmers or sailors

• Secondary source​

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​Almanac

• Usually a one-on-one conversation in which one person asks questions and the other answers

• ​Can include a panel

• Primary source​

​Interview

• Personal communication between two people, often handwritten

• ​A business letter is more formal and is type-written

• Primary source​

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Letter

​Let's practice identifying the best source for information

Multiple Choice

Johnny is looking into buying a new car and wants to know which brand has the best gas mileage, which of the following would be his most reliable source?

• A gas station

• A Toyota car salesman

• Consumers' Reports

• A driver

Multiple Choice

Melissa is doing a report on the connection between McDonalds and childhood obesity. Which of the following is her most reliable source?

• A McDonald's manager

• An obese child

• A parent

• A nutritionist

Multiple Choice

A book about the life of Jay-Z written by Beyonce is a(n)

• autobiography

• biography

• letter

• textbook

Multiple Choice

In order to get information about the trip to Mars, the reporter conducted an ________________ with the astronaut.

• diary

• encyclopedia

• newspaper

• interview

Multiple Choice

The best source of information about Princess Diana's feelings about the birth of her older son would be

• her diary

• a memoir

• a letter she wrote to the Queen

• a biography about Princess Diana

Multiple Choice

If you want to find the definition of conscientious, which source would you use?

• A dictionary

• An atlas

• A thesaurus

• An almanac