There are many kinds of sources, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–your program, the type of assignment, and your instructor’s preference.

• Do you need primary sources?
• Should you use statistics?
• Historical examples?
• Do you need to conduct your own experiment?
• Can you rely on personal experience?

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of sources will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas.

If in doubt, ask your instructor what counts as acceptable sources.

You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of source you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the Citation Guide.