1. They are written by experts - look for an author's credentials or affiliations.
2. They are written for other experts or people in academia. Think of each scholarly work as a voice in an ongoing conversation to which you will add your voice when you write a paper.
3. They use scholarly language with technical, discipline-specific vocabulary.
4. They provide verifiable and reliable evidence for claims. Even if the resource is a general history/overview it will contain well-researched information that the reader can verify.
5. They may be peer-reviewed. Many journals go through an editorial process where other experts review and assess the information.
Content adapted from California State University, Meriam Library.
