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RE: why citations matter
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From: Nancy Bo Flood <wflood_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:55:43 -0700
On the importance of citations, multiple sources and going to primary sou rces: Another thought to add to the hopper, from a lecture given at Vermont College, a quote from Ellen Levine, “Rest on Truth for aut hority rather than authority for truth.”
Debbie Reese talked about the importance of looking carefully and critically at “past authorities.” Yes, indeed, impor tant words of caution. Authors write with a specific perspective and purpose, perhaps not intentionally distorting truth but psychological research clearly shows tha t what we see is tainted by what we want to see. Thus, every reference needs to be critically read and truth never assumed.
Marc Aronson described the many purposes of citations and references, my favorite was the invitation to each reader – join the journey of discovery. Citations and references encourage a reader to look further, look deeper, join the process of discovery. Of course citations and references also provide evidence from where the author’s information has come. Let the reader think critically and decide on truth.
My own addition to this marvelous discussion is to encourage research that as much as possible goes to primary sources – people and pl aces – which becomes the basis of literary nonfiction with truth and detail. Tany a Lee Stone’s ALMOST ASTRONAUTS is one example of including information from a variety and depth of resources. Co nflicts, disagreements, multiple viewpoints, historical misrepresentations become part of the reader’s awareness that all truth is a slippery fish.
The repetition of error or misrepresentation of history in textbooks is prevalent throughout the country. Textbooks need rewriting. H istory has been written from the “white-majority” or European point of view. The state of Montana has taken the lead in development of a constitutionally mandated In dian Education for All curriculum. This year-long, all-subjects curriculum is being developed by gathering interviews and information from primary sources, current and past tribal leaders and edu cators.
One more thought on the importance of primary sources, from Graham Salisbury: “The best re search I have done, however, is primary research – finding and interviewing those who have “been there. ” That is an amazing experience. One of the most rewarding things for me is to hea r my young readers say that because of my books, they have taken it upon thems elves to ask their grandparents about their lives, and have been greatly reward ed for it. That’s a wonderful thing for this writer to hear, and I hear it oft en. Research gives me the past. Through the past I am educated and made better. ”
From isbury/
May 17, 2007 by Trish
Thank you for listening to my thoughts and thank you for this important dis cussion.
Nancy Bo Flood
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
Warriors in the Crossfire NEWYoung Adult novel set on the island of Saipan during WWII
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:41:06 -0400 From: bookmarch_at_aol.com Subject: Re:
why citations matter To: ebattzedek_at_americanreading.com; ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu
Anyone who doubts that citations matter, or thinks that in books for youn g people they are not necessary, should look up this article in today's W ashington Post
7974.html?hpid=topnews
"Virginia 4th-grade textbook criticized over claims on black Confederate
soldiers"
By Kevin Sieff
A 4th grade textbook supposedly vetted and completely approved for use in the state of Virginia claims that thousands of blacks fought for the South during the war -- yet when scholars checked the author's sources it turned out she had merely used websites created by Sons of the Confederacy who are determined to show that the slavery was not a central issue in the war.
Sources and citations matter. And I have to admit in some of my books I've used net sources only to have an expert reader show me that those were date d or inaccurate views -- so the very fact that it is so easy for us to find information makes it all the more important that we get real experts to re view our work before we share it.
Marc Aronson
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:55:43 -0700
On the importance of citations, multiple sources and going to primary sou rces: Another thought to add to the hopper, from a lecture given at Vermont College, a quote from Ellen Levine, “Rest on Truth for aut hority rather than authority for truth.”
Debbie Reese talked about the importance of looking carefully and critically at “past authorities.” Yes, indeed, impor tant words of caution. Authors write with a specific perspective and purpose, perhaps not intentionally distorting truth but psychological research clearly shows tha t what we see is tainted by what we want to see. Thus, every reference needs to be critically read and truth never assumed.
Marc Aronson described the many purposes of citations and references, my favorite was the invitation to each reader – join the journey of discovery. Citations and references encourage a reader to look further, look deeper, join the process of discovery. Of course citations and references also provide evidence from where the author’s information has come. Let the reader think critically and decide on truth.
My own addition to this marvelous discussion is to encourage research that as much as possible goes to primary sources – people and pl aces – which becomes the basis of literary nonfiction with truth and detail. Tany a Lee Stone’s ALMOST ASTRONAUTS is one example of including information from a variety and depth of resources. Co nflicts, disagreements, multiple viewpoints, historical misrepresentations become part of the reader’s awareness that all truth is a slippery fish.
The repetition of error or misrepresentation of history in textbooks is prevalent throughout the country. Textbooks need rewriting. H istory has been written from the “white-majority” or European point of view. The state of Montana has taken the lead in development of a constitutionally mandated In dian Education for All curriculum. This year-long, all-subjects curriculum is being developed by gathering interviews and information from primary sources, current and past tribal leaders and edu cators.
One more thought on the importance of primary sources, from Graham Salisbury: “The best re search I have done, however, is primary research – finding and interviewing those who have “been there. ” That is an amazing experience. One of the most rewarding things for me is to hea r my young readers say that because of my books, they have taken it upon thems elves to ask their grandparents about their lives, and have been greatly reward ed for it. That’s a wonderful thing for this writer to hear, and I hear it oft en. Research gives me the past. Through the past I am educated and made better. ”
From isbury/
May 17, 2007 by Trish
Thank you for listening to my thoughts and thank you for this important dis cussion.
Nancy Bo Flood
wflood_at_hotmail.com www.nancyboflood.com
Warriors in the Crossfire NEWYoung Adult novel set on the island of Saipan during WWII
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:41:06 -0400 From: bookmarch_at_aol.com Subject: Re:
why citations matter To: ebattzedek_at_americanreading.com; ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu
Anyone who doubts that citations matter, or thinks that in books for youn g people they are not necessary, should look up this article in today's W ashington Post
7974.html?hpid=topnews
"Virginia 4th-grade textbook criticized over claims on black Confederate
soldiers"
By Kevin Sieff
A 4th grade textbook supposedly vetted and completely approved for use in the state of Virginia claims that thousands of blacks fought for the South during the war -- yet when scholars checked the author's sources it turned out she had merely used websites created by Sons of the Confederacy who are determined to show that the slavery was not a central issue in the war.
Sources and citations matter. And I have to admit in some of my books I've used net sources only to have an expert reader show me that those were date d or inaccurate views -- so the very fact that it is so easy for us to find information makes it all the more important that we get real experts to re view our work before we share it.
Marc Aronson
---Received on Fri 22 Oct 2010 09:55:43 AM CDT
