BEAMing Your Adaptation

Nicole BranchSanta Clara University Library

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 Eric Fischer.

Objectives

• Plan & execute a search strategy

• Evaluate sources for relevance & purpose

• Discuss potential value of sources

• Select sources for purposes of your assignment

Researching Adaptations

• Using sources to develop approach to adaptation

• Using sources to understand & develop style

• Using sources to craft your treatment

Ways of Categorizing Sources

• Scholarly -------------------------- Popular

• Primary --------------------------- Secondary

• Good -------------------------------- Bad

Bizup’s “BEAM”

• Background

• Exhibit/Evidence

• Argument

• Method

Background

“Any source, assumed to be noncontroversial, used to provide context… facts and information”

Examples: • Encyclopedia articles• Biographies• Historical accounts

Exhibit/Evidence

Sources you analyze or use as evidence.

Examples: • Examples of creator’s work• Quotations from creator• Interviews with the creator• Films of a particular genre

Argument

“The conversation of critical views and relevant scholarship” related to the topic.

Examples: • Critical reviews of a genre or work• Scholarly articles on a particular topic related

to core themes of your adaptation

Method

“References to the theories or methods the writer is employing”

Examples: • Articles about a particular genre or style• References to particular theories or methods

(documentary techniques, character archetypes, etc.)

What can you do with these sources for your writing?

• Understand the historical context of the piece you are adapting

• Understand details and the context of your adaptationBackground• Analyze and understand the style of a creator or genre

(word choice, tone, structure)Exhibit• Gather critical analysis about a creator’s work• Gather analysis of a particular genre or style• Gather analysis/research about topicsArgument• Explore the genre and style of the creator• Gain and understanding of methods used in the genre of

adaptation you have selectedMethod

BEAM Your Adaptation

• Use the mind map to identify the types of sources you might look for related to your adaptation.

Example

Example

Where will you find these sources?• Look for encyclopedia entries and biographies in:

• Reference sources (Wikipedia, CREDO, Gale Virtual Reference)• Gale Artemis (biographies)Background

• Look for the complete works or interviews in:• OSCAR Library Catalog (books)• Gale Artemis (primary sources)• Kanopy (film)

Exhibit• Look for reviews, interviews, and critiques in:

• Gale Artemis (for literature)• Subject specific database (for analysis/research on topics)• Film & Television Index (for film and television )

Argument• Look for scholarly articles on genres/styles or theories/methods in:

• Gale Artemis (for literature)• Film & Television Index (for film and television figures)• OSCAR Library Catalog (books)

Method

Find Sources

• Go to the research guide for this class• Using the suggested databases, find sources

for your adaptation• Complete the form• Room for 6 sources• Send a copy to yourself

Questions?

Nicole Branchnbranch@scu.edux5436