Ancient Source - How do you use them?

[jvrjenivs]

Do I write a paper where I quote a primary source, then quote a secondary source that interprets that primary source for me? Gee, sounds like a rather mind-numbing dont learn how to think or interpret on your own kind of paper.

It seems a bit odd, maybe, but would doing exactly this be a good educational thing. What you can learn by doing this is HOW to interpret an ancient source. I didn't write much papers, but I learned how to handle ancient sources by checking how professionals handled those. By just reading the ancient source you wouldn't be learning anything. By just reading the secondary source you wouldn't learn anything, either. So I don't agree with you it's mind-numbing and a waste of time.