Standage's Argument Analysis

While Standage does use some sources that strengthen his argument, his use of sources in other areas weakens his argument instead of strengthening it.

Secondary sources can help to paint a broader picture of history, while on the other hand, primary sources paint a more vivid picture of a specific time period. Each type of source has its place, but the overwhelming use of one source or another leaves out part of the picture. Authors, therefore, must find an appropriate balance between the two types of sources. However, Standage does not do this. Standage's argument relies overwhelmingly upon secondary sources. Many quotes featured in the text came from secondary sources, which were, in turn, quoting the original source, or even another secondary source. This overwhelming use of secondary sources creates a question - has anyone actually observed firsthand the trends that Standage writes about? The number of accounts Standage could use is staggering - a journal of a slave trader in …show more content…
While old primary sources are acceptable as evidence of a particular time period, older secondary sources present manifold problems. Historians can discover new archaeological evidence or previously squirreled-away primary sources which disprove or discredit earlier theories; what was once a prevailing theory fifty years ago can today be dismissed as unsupported by facts. Of course, older books leave out years of new developments. Although some older sources can be reliable when it comes to older history, Standage's use of so many older sources - about 1/3 of sources were from 1970 or before - raises questions about whether his argument will stand up to today's prevailing theories. Without further information, it is hard to attest to the exact validity of these sources, but on a whole, these older sources and the questions they raise - contribute negatively to the strength of the

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