S3P 2026 +
What we're doing today
- STEM databases
- Evaluating Sources
- LibKey Nomad
- Chemistry research database
- Must register for an account
https://researchguides.swarthmore.edu/scifinder
- Biomedical literature
- National Library of Medicine
Relevance
- Is it on topic?
- Search within the article
- What are you looking for?
- Background information
-
Evidence / exhibits
- Texts to analyze
-
Arguments
- Other scholars' points that you can critique and build on
- Methods
Quality
- Is it scholarly?
- Advantage of using library databases
- Author
- Author/contributor bios
- Can look them up
- Publisher
- _____ University Press
- Routledge, Springer/Palgrave
- Citations
- How often is this article or author cited?
How do you know if a source is any good?
B / E / A / M
Writers rely on background sources, interpret or analyze exhibits, engage arguments, and follow methods.
Bizup (2008)
Exhibit (Evidence)
Background
Writers rely on these sources for general factual information. For instance, a writer could use background information to introduce a setting, situation, or problem in the term paper.
Writers interpret and analyze sources like these in the same way they are used as exhibits and evidence in a museum or a court.
Argument
Writers engage with these sources that they agree with or disagree with. The sources are usually written by scholars in their field.
Method (Model)
Writers follow the key terms, concepts, or manner of working that are explained in these sources.
B/E/A/M examples
Open the handout: bit.ly/beam-swat
BEAM your research
The BEAM framework can help you clarify your goals while looking for sources and reading, and can inform your next steps.
LibKey Nomad
A browser extension that helps connect you with journal articles and news sources available through the library's subscriptions.
LibKey Nomad
Questions?
Andrea Baruzzi - abaruzz1@swarthmore.edu