BEAMing Your Research Topic

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 Brian Wolf.

Objectives

• Plan & execute a search strategy

• Evaluate sources for relevance & purpose

• Discuss potential value of sources

• Select sources for purposes of your assignment

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• Historical background/facts• Statistics• News anecdotes

Exhibit/Evidence

Sources you analyze or use as evidence.

Examples: • Data you collect (interviews, surveys, field

observations)• Cultural documents you use for analysis

Argument

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

Examples: • Scholarly articles about your topic• Literature reviews that trace the

“conversation” as well as the gaps in the conversation

Method

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

Examples: • Articles about particular research

methodologies• Articles about particular theorists or theories

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 conversationExhibit• 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 scholarly discourseArgument• Provides information to conduct your own analysis or

fieldwork• Provides validity for your methodsMethod

BEAM Your Research Topic

• Use the mind map to brainstorm topics and sources for each BEAM element

Example

Where will you find these sources?•Look for encyclopedia entries , statistics, and cultural artifacts in: •Reference sources (CREDO, Gale Virtual Reference)•Statistics Sources (Statista, American Community Survey)•Newspaper & Magazine Databases (New York Times; Newspaper Source)Background

•Look for exhibit sources in:•Your own fieldwork•Newspapers & Magazine•Primary source documentsExhibit

•Look for scholarly articles related to your topic in:•OmniFile•Subject specific databasesArgument

•Look for scholarly articles about methods and theories in:•Recommended research methods texts•OmniFile•Subject specific databasesMethod

Find Sources

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

for your topic• Try to find at least one source for each BEAM

element• Complete the form• Send a copy to yourself

Questions?

Nicole Branchnbranch@scu.edux5436