THE SOURCE NOTEBOOK

The source is part of the story.

Ten references, with a clear account of what each one supports—and what it does not.

A source can establish an organization’s stated position without independently evaluating it. A historical survey can describe its study population without measuring today’s opinion. Use these notes alongside the relevant article. The discussion examples and proposed reading exercises are editorial material, not reported research results.

Merriam-Webster

Dictionary entry for “woke”

Records different meanings and linguistic background. A definition does not decide a policy debate.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

DEI-related discrimination at work

The agency’s explanation of U.S. employment discrimination issues. Not a case-specific legal assessment.

Pew Research Center

2021 political typology

Historical survey-based research on combinations of U.S. political values. Not a current poll or a label for an individual.

American Association of University Professors

1940 academic freedom statement

A professional statement with interpretive comments. It is not a universal statute.

Black Lives Matter

The organization’s About page

A primary account of the organization’s mission. An advocacy source, not an independent evaluation or a statement for everyone.

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Identity politics

A scholarly overview of identity-based political projects and criticism. Our hypothetical examples are separate editorial analysis.

Investor.gov · U.S. SEC

Form 10-K

Explains a financial reporting document. It does not establish the cause of a particular brand’s performance.

Pew Research Center

2021 report on cancel culture

Historical findings from U.S. adults surveyed in September 2020. Not current public-opinion data.

Braver Angels

Workshop overview

A primary description of facilitated political discussion. Our exercise is not an affiliated workshop.

Digital Inquiry Group

Civic Online Reasoning

Explains evaluating online sources through provenance, evidence, and corroboration.

Found a problem with a reference? Send the page, the source, and the specific issue. Avoid private information about others.

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