Within the article Beam, Joseph Bizup places his view on how research should be

conducted to bring about the fullest of understanding and adding to ongoing discussion, rather
than trying to simply prove a new idea or thought. He first distinguishes the purpose of research
to its current understanding by most students as it not a sterile exercise in recovering what is
already known but as socially embedded act of inquiry that aims to further the collective
understanding of a particular discovered community (Bizup 72). His view of research is
centered around people adding to the intellectual conversation as it began to spark new ideas and
develop new insight to the topic being discussed. In order to bring about this change, Bizup
proposes the use of BEAM, which is an acronym standing for Background, Exhibit, Argument,
and Methods. Background is the materials is what the writer would claim to be as facts. The
writer sees this source as authorization and implies that the reader should view it this in the same
manner. Next, exhibit are materials a writer offers for explication, their version of interpretation,
or analyzation. These sources can either be used to lend support for claims or spark the occasion
for claims. Argument are sources that affirms, disputes, refines, or extends the writers research
or writing. This is something that is seen to be lacking in students because argument often
connects the work of the writer to another writer within the same discipline. Methods are sources
that allows for the writer to derive governing concepts or manners of working.
Bizup views the problem with research today is that it does not add to the intellectual
conversation, it solely regurgitates details that someone has already pointed out and used. BEAM
allows for the writer to not focus solely on the grammatical aspect of his or her writing, since
they try not to use the constant same words over and over again. When using BEAM as a frame
for research, it takes the two views into account; the first being the intent of the authors source,
then followed by the writers interpretation. Following this, BEAM allows for the writer to take
part in a whole new domain in which the writer can use their material. This allows for the
specific analyzation of exhibits in order to further conversations embodied in specific
constellations of argument forces, (Bizup 81). BEAM forces the writer to constantly ask
questions that generate new ideas and topics that further the intellectual discussion. Thesis that
find themselves adding to the ideas that are already presented to them indicate both a better
understanding of the text and develop new content. Bizup pushes writers to not have their
research and formation of their thesis be based on background as it would have the paper simply
be the same as a research report. Moreover, Bizup calls for writers to begin their research with an
exhibit as you begin to look for an argument to engage; if you start with argument sources, look
for exhibits to source (82). When composing your argument, it is at an utmost necessity to learn
how to explore, identify, and evalaute to add to the academic discussion.