This document provides an overview of the BEAM framework for evaluating and categorizing sources. It defines each element of BEAM - Background, Exhibit/Evidence, Argument, and Method - and provides examples of source types that fit within each element. The document encourages using sources in writing to provide context, basis for analysis, understanding of how topics have been discussed by others, and information for conducting own analysis. It suggests databases for finding sources corresponding to each BEAM element for debate topics or experiment topics. In the end, it poses questions and provides contact information for the presenter.

1. BEAMing Sustainability
Nicole Branch
Santa Clara University Library
Please sit with your debate teams!
Lesson adapted from Woodward & Ganski, University of Wisconsin
Milwaukee; Engaging Ideas by John C. Bean, and Joseph Bizup, Boston
University. Image courtesy of Flickr user Rum Bucolic Ape..

2. Objectives
• Plan & execute a search strategy
• Evaluate sources for relevance & purpose
• Discuss potential value of sources
• Select sources for purposes of your
assignment

3. Ways of Categorizing Sources
• Scholarly -------------------------- Popular
• Primary --------------------------- Secondary
• Good -------------------------------- Bad

4. Bizup’s “BEAM”
• Background
• Exhibit/Evidence
• Argument
• Method

5. Background
“Any source, assumed to be noncontroversial,
used to provide context… facts and information”
Examples:
• Encyclopedia articles
• Historical background/facts
• News anecdotes

6. Exhibit/Evidence
Sources you analyze or use as evidence.
Examples:
• Data you collect (interviews, surveys, field
observations)
• Data you analyze (statistics, raw data)
• Cultural documents you use for analysis

7. Argument
“The conversation of critical views and relevant
scholarship” related to the topic.
Examples:
• Scholarly or popular articles about your topic
• Scholarly articles that trace the “conversation”
as well as the gaps in the conversation

8. Method
“References to the theories or methods the
writer is employing”
Examples:
• Articles about particular research
methodologies
• Articles about particular theorists or theories

9. What can you do with these sources
for your writing?
• Provide context
• Used in the introduction to orient your reader to your topic and
your paperBackground
• Used for the basis of your original analysis
• The basis of your “voice” in the conversation
• Used as debate evidenceExhibit
• Understand how your topic has been treated by others
• Identify gaps in current understanding of your topic
• Place your own analysis in the context of the larger conversationArgument
• Provides information to conduct your own analysis or fieldwork
• Provides validity for your methods
Method

10. BEAMingYourDebateTopic

11. Where will you find these sources?
• Look for encyclopedia entries , statistics, and cultural artifacts in:
• Reference sources (CREDO, CQ Researcher)
• Newspaper & Magazine Databases (New York Times; Newspaper
Source)
Background
•Look for exhibit sources in:
•Your own fieldwork
•Statistics Sources (Statista, American Community Survey)
•Newspapers & Magazine
Exhibit
• Look for scholarly articles related to your topic in:
• OSCAR (Library Catalog)
• OmniFile
• Subject specific databases
Argument
• Look for scholarly articles about methods and theories in:
• OmniFile
• Subject specific databasesMethod

12. BEAM Treasure Hunt
• Break into debate teams
• Create a Google doc to record your work
• Working together throughout, find and
document each item requested
• Please number each item
• Return to the classroom on time!

13. BEAM Your Experiment Topic
• Use the mind map to brainstorm topics and
sources for each BEAM element

14. BEAMingYourExperiment

15. Find Sources
• Go to the research guide for this class
• Using the suggested databases, find sources
for either your debate topic or your
experiment topic
• Try to find at least one source for each BEAM
element

16. Questions?
Nicole Branch
nbranch@scu.edu
x5436