3 Evaluating Sources Rhetorically

The BEAM model can be useful in both thinking about what a source is trying to do, and for thinking about what you are trying to do with that source. If you need background information, in most cases you want to find a source that was created with the purpose of offering background information, like an encyclopedia or a general book. You might be able to derive some basic information from a source that has the purpose of making an argument, like a journal article or a more focused monograph, but it will be harder to do and may not give you a full picture.