Journal articles (research paper requires at least 3)
- Often referred to as scholarly journals or research journals or peer-reviewed journals.
- Written for experts or college students in the academic field or discipline.
- Authors are scholars, usually professors or researchers, with a graduate degree in the field.
- Terminology used in the article is specialized-that of the discipline- and may contain jargon. The vocabulary assumes the reader has some knowledge of the subject.
- Cite sources in a full bibliography at the end.
- Long and in-depth--often 15+ pages.
- Few, if any, advertisements.
So how do you figure these articles out? See Reading & Analyzing Scholarly Sources tab for tips & tutorials.
Magazines
- Often referred to as popular magazines.
- Authors are usually journalists with no special training in the field, editorial staff members, or free-lance writers.
- Written for the general public and often focus on news, offer entertainment, or provide brief information about diverse topics.
- Usually do not cite sources or just refer to names of people or sources quoted, without full bibliography.
- Short--a few pages or less.
- Lots of ads.
Not sure? Just ask!
