Many general databases will bring articles and citations from various sources such as popular magazines, major newspapers and scholarly/academic journals. How do you know what is a scholarly or academic source and what is a popular publication?
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| Consider | Scholarly | Popular |
|---|---|---|
Type of publication? |
Academic journal - also known as refereed or peer-reviewed |
General interest magazine |
Who is author? |
Expert on topic |
Lay reporter or staff writer |
Who is audience? |
Scholars and students of the journal's discipline |
General public |
What is goal? |
To inform/update |
Often to entertain |
Citations? |
Must includes footnotes & bibliography |
No formal citation |
Writing level? |
Academic; includes large words, jargon |
7-10 th grade level; language is familiar |
Article length? |
Longer than popular sources; up to 30 pages |
Usually short; 1-3 pages |
Graphics? |
Used to illustrate a point |
Used for visual impact |
Advertisements? |
Limited or none |
Many glossy advertisements |
Examples: |
Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Journal of Higher Education |
People Weekly, Newsweek, PC Magazine |
Created by Diane Mizrachi, 2004.
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Last updated: August 29, 2007.