Reading original documents in context

A budget table, meeting record, research paper, contract, or inspection report can provide details that a headline leaves out. These materials are often called primary sources because of their direct relationship to the question being studied.

A primary source provides original evidence about a particular subject or event. Its role depends on the question. A press release is primary evidence of what an organization announced, but it may not independently establish the announcement's claims.

Reading original material carefully means understanding what the document is, what it records, and which conclusions it can support.