Similarities and Difference of Primary and Secondary Sources
Permafrost and Periglacial Processes published a journal article describing the results of a recent study on the receding permafrost along James Bay in Quebec. The study was carried out by Simon Thibault and Serge Payette. Randy Boswell wrote an article in CanWest News based on their journal, summarizing the conclusions to their study in a clear, concise way. He changed the format and certain details to better tailor the article and its findings more for the general public. The two sources result in having many difference and similarities which vary with characteristics like tone, the strength of their claims and the limitations to the information supplied.
The tone of an article or journal is defined through the author’s attitude regarding the material they are addressing. When compared to each other, the two sources are quite the different with their tone. The secondary article is written in a more serious tone to create an effect on its readers. The author uses catchy, descriptive words, to capture his reader’s attention, rather than bore them with dull facts about the topic being discussed. For example, the introduction of the article begins with: “The thawing and decaying of the telltale, reddish mounds along the eastern shore of James Bay have led a team of Quebec researchers to conclude the region’s permafrost line has moved rapidly northward” (Boswell, 2010). The author’s use of expressive words helps set the tone of his work. This is much different from the primary source article because the format of the work is meant to be formal, and to put forth the results and data collected in the study.
The primary and secondary source articles share many difference and similarities. One similarity would be that the news article accurately proclaims statements that are parallel to the journal’s evidence. However, where they differ on how they present their claims. The journal article displays its information in a very formal manner. The author uses tables, map and diagrams to show their data. The news article does not use this method to show information about the study. Instead, the author interviews the researchers who wrote the journal, which simplifies the news article and makes it more relatable to the reader.
Another difference between the two sources is the preciseness of the information they present. For example, the news article does not go into detail with the exact longitudinal coordinates of where the data of the receding permafrost has been collected. The author simplifies and condenses the information from the primary source to make it easier for the reader to understand. On the contrary, the journal article is very detailed with its data and explanations of the study. It provides an in-depth analysis of the factors that affect the permafrost in James Bay, and also documents the thickness of the permafrost and the changes that have occurred over time.
Differences between the two sources can also be seen in their format and presentation of their data. For example, the journal article is very long and dry due to the extreme detail put into it. The news article is opposite of this, for the author keeps it short and lays out the facts in a simple manner to keep his audience’s attention. In contrast, the authors of the primary article did not aim for the same goal, which thus explains why the two articles differ extraordinarily in amusement.
The primary and secondary sources differ in the limitations of their information. The news article, which is brief and straight to the point, is limited in the amount of evidence it supplies. However, the journal article has an abundance of factual information and evidence that supports their research, which the secondary source does not contain.
The news article written by Randy Boswell and the article published in the journal Permafrost and Periglacial Processes are very much the same when considering the information they present. However, they also differ a great deal through the way each article was written, the format and tone. The journal article, written by Simon Thibault and Serge Payette, holds a lot more detail when it explains the data recovered and the conclusions made from their research. Also, the journal article it has more evidence to support its claims and therefore does not have many limitations in it. The news article is the opposite because Randy Boswell wrote his article for a different sort of audience and therefore had to dumb-down the main article, which unavoidably creates limitations. He simplified his article by keeping it short and to the point; as well he added a serious tone to create more interest. Neither article is proven better than the other because both articles are intended for different audiences. However, despite the many differences they have, they also complement each other in ways that the study done by Payette and Thibault provides an interesting outlook on a serious topic and Boswell’s article helps informs larger part of the population.
References
Primary Source:
Payette, Serge, Thibault, Simon. “Recent Permafrost Degradation in Bogs of the James Bay Area, Northern Quebec, Canada.” Permafrost and Processes, (2009): 383-389. Web. 22 Sept. 2009.
Secondary Source:
Randy Boswell,”Permafrost Rapidly Deteriorating in Northern Quebec: study,” CanWest News (Don Mills), Feb 17, 2010
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