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Many Types

A tennis ball.

It can be challenging to classify what a source is, because every source can have a variety of labels.

Consider a tennis ball. Can you classify it as just one type of thing? Not really - there are too many categories it can fit into. For example:

  • It is a spherical object.
  • It is a fuzzy object.
  • It is 2.5 inches in diameter.
  • It’s a bouncy object.
  • It is a smelly object.

Likewise, the sources that you use for your research papers can each be described in multiple ways.

It is important to know some of the ways they can be described, so that you can both understand instructions from your instructors and properly cite the sources. Knowing how to describe a source can also provide you with valuable insight into its reliability and usefulness.