30 Mapping the Conversation

The previous chapter introduced you to synthesis. So how do you combine different sources of information to form a coherent whole, as the writers did in the examples in that chapter?

First, it’s important to recognize that sources are already in conversation with one another. We’re used to seeing sources as just a list of links on a search results page (whether from Google or a library database):

We’re also used to seeing videos as an endless scroll on TikTok or Instagram:

Fig. 30.2 Instagram’s and TikTok’s algorithms guarantee an infinite scroll of personalized but disorganized content. [Image Description]

The way we encounter so much information these days makes us think of our sources as somewhat random and unconnected, which can make it hard to figure out how to position them in conversation in an essay.

But look closer at the sources you’ve found on your topic, and you might find that they are connected. For example:

• One website might link to another website and comment on it.
• A scholarly article might cite another scholarly article and discuss how their findings are different.
• A TikTok stitch might show someone watching and commenting on someone else’s video (See Figure 30.3 [Image Description]).
• Two different poems might use similar imagery, wording, or form to express an idea.

Instead of seeing sources as standing alone, what if we saw writing as a social act, with each of us building on the ideas that came before? How can our writing pull these ideas together and jump in with our own experiences and interpretations? Consider the “Burkean parlor,” a metaphor developed by philosopher and rhetorician Kenneth Burke, illustrated in this video (view time is 2:05):

Video 30.1. Research is a conversation by NJIT Library

In fact, apps like Research Rabbit and Connected Papers can help you see the networks that connect scholars by visualizing papers that cite each other or common papers:

Fig. 30.4. A Research Rabbit graph maps how different scholarly articles are connected by the articles they cite. [Image Description]

So now you understand that your sources are connected in various ways, as writers and thinkers build on each other’s ideas over time. But how do you do this in your own writing? This video explains some strategies for putting sources in conversation with one another (view time is 3:47):

Video 30.2. Putting sources in conversation by liblituwm

As you research, remember to ask, who started this conversation? Where did the narratives people use to talk about this issue come from? And how can I bring value to this conversation with my own voice and experiences?

Image Descriptions

Fig. 30.2 Image Description. The image is a screen capture of a social media feed showing a grid of nine posts, each with a small image thumbnail. The posts vary in content, from text-centered graphics, photographs of people, to images of jewelry. The feed includes a search bar at the top labeled “Search with Meta AI.” Top-left post contains a text graphic with bold, colorful words on a green background. Transcribed Text: “DUE PROCESS MEANS NO ONE ON AMERICAN SOIL CAN BE DEPORTED OR PUNISHED WITHOUT A TRIAL”; Top-center post features an animated or colorful image of a woman surrounded by festive elements. Top-right post shows a woman and a child in a room with a warm ambiance and decorations. Middle-left shows a close-up of a statement necklace with colorful stones. Middle-center is a photograph of a man wearing a suit, posing against a neutral backdrop. Transcribed Text: “VICTORY”. Middle-right contains another image of a piece of jewelry, possibly a necklace. Bottom-left features a text-centered image with vibrant colors and a celebratory theme. Bottom-center shows a woman smiling brightly in a garden-like setting. Bottom-right consists of a close-up of a set of eyes with a makeup focus. Along the bottom of the screen are icons typically used for navigation on social media platforms.  [Return to Fig. 30.2]

Fig. 30.3 Image Description. The image is a screenshot from a social media post. It features two vertically aligned images side by side. On the left, a woman with glasses and a sleeveless top appears to be speaking. She has a neutral expression and is in a domestic setting with a white wall in the background. Text in a red box overlays this image. On the right is another woman with glasses, wearing a patterned top, and gesturing with her hand. This image contains a red text box at the top. The background is plain white. Transcribed Text: “Listen to this if you think AI is a sentient being [Left Image Red Box Text] First time trying to hear why people who actually think that don’t get it wrong. Thank you. Are you going to talk about how we feel Emotions and what we can do about it? 😂🙃 (laughing and upside-down face emojis suggest a playful tone) [Right Image Red Box Text] AI does not think. Dr. bird 💛✨🎤🚀(yellow heart, sparkles, microphone, rocket — playful or branded tone) YT & IG Part 239 / Credit: @user 🔴 Professor Casey…Read more 🎧 #Playlist on bird’s work. Add comment… 🔎 ❤️😂🥰 (search icon, red heart, laughing face, heart eyes — typical TikTok reactions)” [Return to Fig. 30.3]

Fig. 30.4 Image Description. The image displays a three-column interface of an academic research analysis tool. On the left, there is a column titled “5 selected papers,” featuring a list of papers that appear to be curated or highlighted. Each entry includes the authors, year, title, and an abstract of the paper. The papers are categorized with color-coded labels and buttons for filtering by author relevance and collection status. The central column, labeled “Similar Work,” presents a list of related papers arranged vertically with metadata including author names, publication year, and research topics. This list is extensive, offering multiple filtering options at the top for abstract, export types, and relevance. On the right, a network graph titled “Connections between your collection and 54 papers” visualizes relationships between various papers. The nodes, representing papers, are connected by lines that denote citation or thematic links. The nodes are colored primarily in shades of green and blue, with labels indicating authors and publication years, arranged in a network layout. Transcribed Text: 5 selected papers; Export: abbs json; Yang — Wang 2011: Scientific Productivity, Research Funding, Race and Ethnicity.; Valantine — Collins 2015: National Institutes of Health addresses the science of diversity.; Similar Work; Filter these items; Connections between your collection and 54 papers; Graph Type: Network, Timeline; Labels: First Author, Last Author; Filter these items. [Return to Fig 30.4]