My professor said: “Use recent scholarship.” But this 1983 book is exactly what I need. No one has said it better since.
Will I get marked down for citing an old source?
Some fields (history, philosophy) — old is fine. Classic, even. Other fields (medicine, tech) — old is dangerous. I’m in sociology. Is 1983 ancient? The data is old. But the theory is still relevant. I asked a TA. She said: “Cite it. But also cite a recent paper that agrees with it.” That’s smart. Shows you know it’s old but still valuable.
So my question: what’s YOUR cutoff year? Do you have a rule? (Nothing before 2000? 2010?)
Or do you just use anything that makes your argument stronger? I’m scared my professor will see “1983” and write “outdated” in red pen. Help.
Will I get marked down for citing an old source?
Some fields (history, philosophy) — old is fine. Classic, even. Other fields (medicine, tech) — old is dangerous. I’m in sociology. Is 1983 ancient? The data is old. But the theory is still relevant. I asked a TA. She said: “Cite it. But also cite a recent paper that agrees with it.” That’s smart. Shows you know it’s old but still valuable.
So my question: what’s YOUR cutoff year? Do you have a rule? (Nothing before 2000? 2010?)
Or do you just use anything that makes your argument stronger? I’m scared my professor will see “1983” and write “outdated” in red pen. Help.