[WikiEN-l] fancruft

[Ray Saintonge]

Anthony wrote:

>"The distinction between types of sources can get tricky, because a
>secondary source may also be a primary source. Garry Wills' book about
>Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, for example, can looked at as both a
>secondary and a primary source. The distinction may depend on how you
>are using the source and the nature of your research. If you are
>researching Abraham Lincoln, the book would be a secondary source
>because WIlls is offering his opinions about Lincoln and the
>Gettysburg Address. If your assignment is to write a book review of
>Lincoln at  Gettysburg, the book becomes a primary source, because you
>are commenting, evaluating, and discussing Garry Wills' ideas."
>
Fortunately, Wikipedia did not exist in 1863.  Had you been at 
Gettysburg then and writing about it, NOR would have prevented America 
from ever hearing about Lincoln's speech. :-)

Ec