conversation2e

Review Your Sources

As you learn about a topic, you’ll begin the process of focusing your attention on a specific issue — a point of disagreement, uncertainty, concern, or curiosity that is being discussed by a community of readers and writers. Look for patterns in the information, ideas, and arguments you encounter.

Notice central concepts. When several sources refer to the same idea, you can assume that this information is central to the topic.
Find broad themes. Sources that discuss the same general theme are most likely involved in the same conversation. By recognizing these broad themes, you can identify some of the key issues addressed in the conversations about your topic.
Look for disagreements. Some sources will explicitly indicate that they disagree with the arguments, ideas, or information in other sources. If you look for explicit statements of disagreement, you can identify a group of sources that are engaged in conversation with one another.
Recognize recurring voices. You might find that some authors write frequently about your topic or that some are cited frequently. These authors might have significant experience or expertise related to the topic, or they might represent particular perspectives on the topic.

As you review the conversations you’ve identified, ask what interests you most about each one. At a minimum, you’ll want to choose a focus that interests you and is appropriate for your assignment. Ideally, this focus will also match up well with the purposes, needs, interests, and backgrounds of your readers.