Blog 4 - Chapter 6

A chapter in the book that I found interesting was chapter 6, specifically in the beginning in which it talks about getting started with sources in general. Personally I believe research is not only an incredibly critical part of a paper, but that it is meaningless unless reliable. Many people will use Wikipedia or just the first website they come across which bothers me because I feel like a good paper is formed around good research and evidence. In high school, my teacher would not accept a source for a paper or project unless it was reliable, meaning from a news website or professional page, basically Wikipedia was an obvious no. It is not difficult to find professional and reliable sources in my opinion and it makes papers sometimes easier to put together with a better outcome when writing the final draft. Better sources and research also allows for a better understanding of one's own work so it is easier to understand to other people or an audience. In the end, using a good source will ensure less flaws in a paper. On page 306 it reads "...they help you make decisions..." and "...aid you in making informed choices." I can, without a doubt, say that I am not very good at making decisions; however, the more reliable and strong a source I find is, the easier it is to trust and write about. The chapter also mentions how sources are a great way to start a paper and that makes it easier to continue on from a strong starting point. I think of it was a spiral, with the sources on the inside and you keep your eye on the middle, those great facts you have found, as they spiral out into a well informed and put together piece of work. I agree with what the chapter says to the point of making sure that one does not overdo the sources and just uses them as a kickstart because a paper with too much research can become boring.