We’ve definitely have all heard of the words “primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.” However, Bizup criticizes these vocabulary words as “rigid, disciplinary, and a-rhetorical.” So he introduces the concept of BEAM.
BEAM. What is it in terms of research? Well, According to Joseph Bizup, a professor at Columbia university, BEAM is background, exhibits, arguments, and methods. He wrote the article “BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research Based Teaching.
Background.
Have you thought about the assumptions made by the author while reading his/her article? And how you also have your own assumptions that you are unaware of when writing? Bizup explains that writers tend to leave out these assumptions because they believe they are “common sense” and “facts.”
I notice that I tend to do leave out my assumptions in almost all forms of writing that I do because I sometimes forget that some people may not necessarily see things the way I do. However, I’ve been working on trying to recognize that I my assumptions made in my writing pieces. For instance in my earlier posts, Down With the Patriarchy, I had to keep in mind that I was speaking from a feminist perspective and that not everyone can relate or understand that particular perspective,.
Exhibits.
Bizup states that giving an example of something is the most common form of an exhibit source. However, Bizup distinguishes between “evidence” and “exhibit.” He states that the point of “exhibits [is to] lend support to claims …. [and] provide occasion for a claims.” In other words exhibits, allow other to make their own claims while evidence is used to support already made claims.
I noticed that in my past research papers, I would use evidence to support my own claims. However, in contrast, for my Archival Research paper , I kept an open mind about what topic to research on and drew my own conclusions from the primary documents. Although that experience was very different from my past high school experiences, it was very beneficial and eye opening.
Arguments.
An argument is what hat the author is refuting, defending, or extending. As Bizup puts it: “entering a conversation.”
I definitely struggled with an argument and “entering a conversation.” For my past assignment about college and inequality, I had to put various documents into “conversation” while voicing my own opinion. It was a very difficult task to do because I am so accustomed to a structured form of writing taught in high school. You can read about my first experience in putting articles in conversation here.
Methods.
Last, but not least, methods. In my understanding, Bizup explains that method sources are how writers establish a structure to their papers. From my personal experience in writing, I tend to write in a chronological order. I like to think that my transitions from each topic is smooth. Although my writing is still a work in progress, I feel like it has improved drastically from first quarter of my freshmen year.
So what?
Writing the final research paper for my English class is going to be a struggle for me because I still have yet to master BEAM. Wish me luck on this academic roller coaster.