Applying BEAM/BEAT
BEAM is a framework used to think about how sources are used in a paper.
- B: background
- E: exhibit / evidence
- A: argument
- M (or T): method (or theory)
When you work on a research paper or project, you will use a variety of source types and weave together different perspectives about your research topic. Some assignments might have source requirements too, for example academic and popular sources, digital and print sources, etc. You can use the Types of Sources tab to learn more about the different sources you interact with.
It is important to explore a variety of sources so that you can more fully understand your research topic and write a well-informed paper. It may be helpful to think about your search strategy and at what stage of the research process a source might be useful for you.
More important than identifying the type of source, is how you use it. Any type of source might be appropriate for a research project, depending on how you use it.
| Source Function | Explanation | Examples of Types of Sources | Where you might use it in your paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| B: Background | Factual information that provides context. Used to provide general information that explains your topic. | Wikipedia or encyclopedia articles, overviews in books, statistics, historical facts. | Introduction |
| E: Exhibit, Evidence | Used as evidence or examples to analyze. i.e. data, observations, objects, artifacts, primary source documents. |
For literature, the text of a novel or poem. For history, a historical document or artifact. For sociology, field observations, focus group transcriptions, questionnaire data. For chemistry, results of an experiment. |
Body/Results |
| A: Argument | Used to engage its argument or thesis. May include critical views from other scholars or journalists. | Scholarly articles, books, critical reviews (e.g. literacy criticism), editorials. | Body, sometimes in Introduction or in Literature Review |
|
M: Method T: Theory |
Used to apply a source’s way of analyzing an issue to your own topic. | You might use a study’s methods, definitions, or conclusions on green space urban planning in San Francisco to apply to Boston. |
Methods or referenced in Introduction or Body M/T is used in high-level research in a particular discipline. |
A source may serve more than one function. For instance, a journal article could provide you with background information, exhibits, argument, and method. However, some sources are focused on a single function. For example, an encyclopedia entry is likely to only serve as background information.
