Scholarly or Popular?
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?
- Type of publication?
- Who is the author?
- Who is the audience?
- What is the goal?
- Are there citations?
- What is the writing level?
- What is the article length?
- Are there graphics?
- Does it have advertisements?
- Academic journal - also known as refereed or peer-reviewed
- Authors are experts on topic
- Audience are scholars and students of the journal's discipline
- The goal of the article is to inform/update
- Articles must includes footnotes & bibliography
- The writing level is academic; includes large words, jargon
- Article length is longer than popular sources; up to 30 pages
- If there are graphics, it is used to illustrate a point
- Advertisements are limited or there are none
- Examples would be: Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Journal of Higher Education
- General interest magazine
- Authors are lay reporter or staff writer
- Audience is the general public
- Goal is often to entertain
- Articles have no formal citation
- Writing level is 7-10 th grade level; language is familiar
- Article length is usually short; 1-3 pages
- Graphics are used for visual impact
- Many glossy advertisements
- Examples would be: People Weekly, Newsweek, PC Magazine