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Connecting Research to Writing

Understanding the purposes of different types of sources can help you choose the best sources to support your ideas or argument.

The many different types of sources available offer various ways to present your viewpoint. Click on the purposes below to view types of sources you can use in your papers to convey the purpose given.

Purpose of Source:

To present facts or statistics as evidence to support an argument or idea

  • research-based studies, such as those found within scholarly, academic, or peer-reviewed journals
  • grey literature
  • data and statistics

To provide examples and illustrations to support an idea

  • scholarly books or e-books
  • research-based studies, such as those found within scholarly, academic, or peer-reviewed journals

To provide background information or context that will help readers understand the topic

  • scholarly books or e-books
  • reference sources, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks

To supply evidence for helping to develop an argument

  • research-based studies, such as those found within scholarly, academic, or peer-reviewed journals
  • grey literature

To provide support from an expert or authority on the topic for an argument being made in the paper

  • research-based studies, such as those found within scholarly, academic, or peer-reviewed journals
  • grey literature

To present a counterargument or serve as opposition to the thesis

  • research-based studies, such as those found within scholarly, academic, or peer-reviewed journals
  • grey literature

Resources: