*Reusable LibGuides Boxes: Using Sources

This video offers a thorough process of taking notes on academic papers, with slight emphasis on learning terminology and using Evernote.

This video excels at describing and highlighting the anatomy of scholarly articles and their value to readers.

Consider the following points when reading a scholarly article:

1. Know your research question or argument. Though your question/argument may change or evolve as you delve deeper into the research process, you will want to have a solid idea of your research focus.
2. You don't have to read the entire article in order. Start with the abstract which will give you a general summary of the article. If the abstract seems relevant then move to the conclusion or discussion section of the article to gain a better understanding of the article's main claims. At this point if the article does not seem relevant or useful then discard it. However, if the article does seem useful then spend as much time as necessary reading the article.
3. Read critically. What is the author's argument? You will need to use your judgment when evaluating each source of information. Further research may be necessary if you find the author to be biased or you do not believe the validity of their argument. 
4. Read the reference section. Reading the references or works cited may lead you to other useful resources. You might also get a better understanding of the major players in the area you are researching. 
5. Take notes. How you do this is up to you. Make sure you keep your research question and argument in mind so you can be more efficient when taking notes. 

http://libguides.csuchico.edu/c.php?g=462359&p=3163509

A better way to think about your sources

Explanation	Factual information that provides an overview of or context for a topic.	Sources that will be analyzed or interpreted	Critical views from other scholars or commentators that can be agreed with, disagreed with, or built upon.	The method and theories used to shape a research methodology, approach, or analytical lens
Examples	Encyclopedia entries, overviews in books, statistics, historical newspaper articles	Text of a novel, field observation, focus group data, interviews, performances, results from an experiment	Scholarly articles, books, critical reviews, editorials	references to theorists (Foucault, Said) or theories (feminism, critical race theory), information on a research methodology
Where are you most likely to use these sources?	Introduction	Body, Results section	Body, sometimes in the Introduction or a Literature Review	Methods section, sometimes referenced in the Introduction or the Body

Rather than only think about whether a source is primary, secondary, or tertiary; instead think about how you are going to use that source. If you have at least one source in each category, your writing will be stronger and your arguments will be better supported.

Sources can serve more than one function!

For instance, a journal article could:

• provide background information on a topic
• serve as an exhibit you will analyze
• include an argument for you to respond to
• or could include a method for you to follow in organizing your own data gathering and reporting

However, some sources are focused on a single function.  For example, an encyclopedia entry on “Alzheimer's disease” is likely to only serve as background information.

Credits:

The BEAM method is from: Bizup, Joseph. “BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research-Based Writing.” Rhetoric Review 27.1 (2008): 72-86.
This page is adapted from "Source Functions: Background, Exhibits, Argument, Method (BEAM)" from the University of California Merced Library.

Image Credits:

BEAM title image: 10. Column and Beam Details - Hantz House, 855 Fairview Drive, Fayetteville, Washington County, AR Drawings from Survey HABS AR-54 created by the Historic American Buildings Survey is in the Public Domain.
Background icon: Investigation free icon created by Nhor Phai is used under Flaticon.com's license.
Exhibit icon: Encyclopedia free icon created by Talha Dogar is used under Flaticon.com's license.
Argument icon: Application free icon created by Freepik is used under Flaticon.com's license.
Method icon: Pie Chart free icon created by Freepik is used under Flaticon.com's license.