7.1 Categorizing Sources Using BEAM
Jackie Hendricks; Amy Lueck; Loring Pfeiffer; and Maura Tarnoff
Once you have gathered your sources and assessed them, it’s time to figure out how they connect to each other and how you will use them in your research paper. The approach we’re giving you here, called BEAM (background, exhibits/evidence, argument, and method), was developed by Joseph Bizup to describe the roles that sources can play in your finished assignment. While we talked about other ways to categorize sources [Chapter 6], such as primary or secondary, this approach is less about the nature of the source itself and more about the uses to which you might put a given source, recognizing that you will orient yourself differently towards different kinds of sources.
Consider Together: BEAM
Watch the video below to get an overview of the BEAM method.
Before we break down each of the BEAM categories, what are your first impressions of this approach? Why might it be useful for crafting a strong research project?
The Ohio State University Libraries developed this “BEAM Reference Chart” [PDF] to help you quickly determine how you might find or use a source.
Practice: Categorize Your Sources
Directions: Review your annotated bibliography, source maps, and/or source summaries. Using the form below, sort them into the BEAM categories (note that some sources might fall into multiple categories).
Attribution
“Categorizing Sources Using BEAM” by Jackie Hendricks, Amy Lueck, Loring Pfeiffer, and Maura Tarnoff is adapted from “BEAM: A Solution That Might Shine“, “Using BEAM: An Example” and “Practice with BEAM” from Choosing and Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research by Teaching & Learning, University Libraries of Ohio State University, used under CC BY 4.0. “Categorizing Sources Using BEAM” is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
