In class it is important to know when we are treating texts as primary or secondary sources. There are many textbooks, documentaries and websites that help us make sense of the texts we come across in our daily lives and in the classroom. These secondary sources enrich our understanding of language and literature.

The lists of secondary sources on the following pages should help you place primary sources into the contexts of the fields in which they are studied. For example, the documentary Outfoxed is a secondary source that comments sensational language used by Fox News. You can apply what you learn from this documentary to primary texts on the Fox News website or other news providers that make use of sensationalism.