In the larger boxes, identify 3-4 arguments that you will be making. For each of those arguments, identify 2-4 sources (which could include your primary source) that you will be drawing upon to support that argument, perhaps with a few notes as to what kind of source it is, how you intend to use it, etc. Notice any patterns…do you have ‘leftover’ sources that aren’t helping you make one of your core arguments? Do you have arguments for which you’ve so far only found 1 or 2 sources to draw on? Identifying these gaps will help you strengthen your writing and determine the next steps in your research.

Here's a Google Doc version if you'd prefer not to handwrite (go to File>Make a copy to save a version that you can edit)

Figure out where the gaps are in the literature that you've gathered. 

• Do you need market data?
• Do you need analysis?
• Do you need a different perspective? 
• Do you need historical context?

BEAM is a framework for thinking about the various ways in which a resource might be used to make a researched argument. Joseph Bizup, an English professor at Boston University, outlined the framework in a 2008 article. The idea has since been refined and adapted by many others.