Where Did You Get That Information?

If you do much nonfiction writing, you’ll hear a lot about sources. How good are your sources? Do you have primary sources? Nonfiction is only as good as its sources – meaning, everything in a nonfiction book or article needs the support of a good source. Now, if you happen to be an expert (or in the case of personal experience articles, if you happen to be the person who had the experience) then the need for outside sources lessens a bit, but it may not disappear altogether.

WHEN DO YOU NEED SOURCES?

Anytime you state a fact, you need a source:

• In Iceland, steam from volcanoes heats homes.
• In an annular eclipse, a ring-shaped part of the Sun remains visible.
• Benjamin Franklin once worked out a magic square of sixteen x sixteen.

Listener Question of the Week

Roger asks:

Am I hero or a goat?

Listen to hear what he’s talking about!