| Source Function | Explanation | Examples | Common Locations |
| Background | Factual and noncontroversial information, providing context |
Encyclopedia articles, overviews in books, statistics, historical facts; see CREDO Reference |
Introduction |
| Exhibit/Evidence | Data, observations, objects, artifacts, documents that can be analyzed |
Text of a novel, field observations, focus group transcriptions, questionnaire data, results of an experiment, interview data (primary sources) |
Body, Results/ conclusion section |
| Argument | Critical views from other scholars and commentators; part of the academic conversation | Scholarly articles, books, critical reviews (e.g. literacy criticism), editorials |
Body, sometimes in Introduction or in Literature Review |
| Method (or Theory) | Reference to methods or theories used, usually explicit though may be implicit; approach or research methodology used |
Part of books or articles with reference to theorists (e.g. Foucault, Derrida) or theory (e.g. feminism, post-colonialism, new historicism etc.); information on a research methodology |
Methods section or referenced in Introduction or Body |
A source may serve more than one function. For instance, a journal article could include background information, exhibits, argument and method. However, some sources are focused on a single function. For example, an encyclopedia entry on “Alzheimer's disease” is likely to only serve as background information.
Adapted from UC Merced; BEAM Method created by Joseph Bizup
Look at each of these sources and think about how you might use them in a paper about Henry VIII and religion. Could you use them for background, examples, arguments, or methodology? Keep in mind that a single source can be used in multiple ways, depending on how you formulate your guiding question.
After you have looked at these resources, work with your table to come up with a few research questions you could ask based on what you've read.