We have spent a lot of time talking about different types of sources and how to evaluate the quality of those sources. But a source is only as strong as how you use it in your paper. You can use a variety of types of sources to provide background information (in this case for your reader), exhibit, argument, or method. We will discuss each of these using the BEAM Method.
![](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/189294/images/BEAM_Image.png)
Background Sources- Provides an overview of a topic, core concepts or basic facts.
- Providing the reader basic information about your topic. THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION YOU FOUND WITH CREDO!
- Noncontroversial, well established information in the field
- Can be common knowledge, and therefore does not necessarily need to be cited.
- If in doubt cite your sources!
Exhibit Sources - generally works of literature, collected data, observed event that you need to analyze.
- used to provide an example or give evidence for a claim
- News or popular sources can be great places to find descriptions of events to use as exhibit sources.
Argument Sources - information from other authors you are agreeing with, disagreeing with, or building upon.
- puts your research in context of other scholarship on your topic.
- More than likely scholarly sources.
Method Sources - sources that provide underlying framework for your argument.
- For some research, this will literally be the methods you use to collect data.
- Can be a set of key terms, or a general model or perspective you are writing under.
- Since methods, like background knowledge, are often common knowledge in a given discipline, they can sometimes go uncited.