Argument
| Your Use of the Source | About This Use | Example | Where it is Commonly Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argument | Arguments are claims (e.g. hypotheses or opinions) found in your sources that you will engage with. You may agree with the claim, argue with it, dispute it, refine it, expand upon it, etc. | Usually are “secondary sources.” Examples: scholarly articles, books, critical reviews, literary criticism, and/or editorials. | Introduction; Literature Review; Body of your paper |
Tip
A common misconception among students is that the claims, hypotheses, and opinions presented in published works, particularly peer-reviewed or empirical articles must be taken as irrefutable fact. Not so!
Academics use the phrase "scholarly conversation" to describe how new scholarship and research builds on and responds to previous research done by others. In turn, that new research is expanded upon, refined, or even refuted by future researchers.