SSI2-149: Creationism v. Evolutionism: Getting Started

BEAM is an acronym intended to help you think about the various ways you might use sources when writing 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.

Tertiary sources, such as subject encyclopedias, are excellent starting points in your research.  Use them to find:

• Helpful overviews of key facts:  who? what? when?
   
• Bibliographies of especially significant scholarly work.
   
• Identification of important primary sources.
   
• Brief descriptions of main scholarly arguments:  how? why?

At Collins Library, you can access subject encyclopedias in a variety of formats: print, ebook, or via larger digital collections.

Print encyclopedias are located on the first floor of the library, across from the Learning Commons.

Online encyclopedias can be accessed via PRIMO, the library's discovery platform. 

Large digital collections of subject encyclopedias can be accessed via several publisher-based platforms.

Of those listed below, GVRL and SAGE are likely to give you the most and the best results!