Blog for 10/3: Ch.5 Synthesis

    Ch.5 simply describes how research sources should be managed within the writing process.  It mentions that by visualizing your research, sources can build on one another.  I noticed this to be true when I have found research in the past by looking around at the sources around my current source.  After this, the chapter talks about narrowing your search and the process of finding primary and secondary sources.  When you are finding these sources, the primary sources are the original text that you use and the secondary sources are used to build on your primary sources.  On p. 101 it says that by evaluating the sources that you use, you can ultimately find what you need for your paper.  However, the process that is used for evaluating sources is left up to the author.  Personally, when I evaluate sources, I use a search engine online and read the first part of a web page carefully, but then I skim the rest of what I find.  When I am evaluating a book, I read the inside part of the front cover and maybe glance at the beginning part of the book to see where the topic is headed.  At the end of the chapter it mentions the idea of using an annotated bibliography, which is a good way to keep sources organized together and for you to keep track of what information each source includes.