27 Using Sources as Evidence
Core Curriculum and Christina Frasier
Learning Objectives
- Learn to rely on sources to develop an essay.
- Understand the role of argumentation in academic discourse.
- Identify the elements of a complex conversation and an author’s motives.
Incorporating a variety of appropriate sources into an essay
At a university, you take courses in many different departments—in fact, in many different colleges, from COBE to CVPA. With courses taught in so many different departments and colleges, it may be natural to fall into the habit of looking at assignments in isolation from other assignments. It also may be natural to fall into the habit of looking at assignments as being isolated from the world at large.
In the case of the researched argument, you may find yourself unconsciously assuming that all you need to do is locate some sources that back up your opinion, document them, and turn in your report. But a well-constructed argument happens in the context of a conversation. A well-constructed argument both presents the existing discussion about a topic and asserts the writer’s opinion within the context of that discussion. It answers those who have already spoken and anticipates the responses of those who might read the argument and join in the conversation as it continues to evolve.
To help you participate in the conversation necessary for the creation of a Researched Essay, this section will answer the following questions:
- What is a complex conversation?
- How do my sources contribute to a discussion?
- How can I identify an author’s motives?
- How can I identify an author’s intended audience?
- How can I identify a source’s place within an ongoing conversation?
- How do I distinguish between sources of opinion and sources of information?
What is a complex conversation?
You should think of your researched argument not only as a conversation but as a complex conversation. Many people will have participated in the ongoing discussion; many people will participate in the discussion in the future. You need to consider and respond to these multiple voices, with their multiple points of view. If you are fair and open minded, you will consider all viewpoints, even those with whom you disagree at the outset. After listening to all participants in the conversation, you may back one side or another, argue for a compromise, or even contribute a new perspective that no one has yet recognized or acknowledged.
How do my sources contribute to a discussion?
Your sources are themselves arguments. Even if they seem to only provide information, they ‘argue’ for the value of that information by offering it within the context of an ongoing conversation. You can get at that ‘argument’ and the context in which it takes place by asking yourself two questions: What motivates the writer or speaker? Who is her audience?
How can I identify an author’s motives?
If your source is a written one, try to determine the author’s reasons for writing the ar