Primary sources are original sources that first report on research or an idea. In other words, they are documents or records that contain firsthand reports or original data on a topic. Examples of primary sources include:
Secondary Sources description from SFU Library
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. Secondary sources are one step removed from the event. Examples: a book about the effects of World War I, a journal article which evaluates a scholar's contribution in a field, an interpretive essay on a short story, or a biography (which may incorporate brief primary sources such as letters, diary entries, etc.)
Types of secondary sources include: textbooks, journal articles, histories, criticism, commentaries, and encyclopedias.