Transcript Distinguishing Scholarly from Nonscholarly Periodicals

Distinguishing scholarly from
nonscholarly periodicals
• Take notes on the criteria that you need to be
familiar with to help you differentiate
between scholarly journals and other
periodicals.
• Being able to distinguish scholarly from
nonscholarly periodicals is the first step in
critically evaluating your source of
information for college level research.
What are Periodicals?
• Magazines, newspapers and journals are also
called:
– PERIODICALS
• Articles are published in:
– Magazines
– Newspapers
– Journals
Why does it matter?
 Popular periodicals often publish with little or no
attribution of sources and can cite anonymous
sources.
 Might mention “sources say” but do not provide you with
the information you would need to find it on your own
 Scholarly articles are required to provide full
documentation to support statements.
 Works Cited, Bibliography or References
 And this matters because …You shouldn’t trust or
quote information when you don’t know where
it is coming from
Scholarly Journals
• Reports original research or experimentation.
• Articles written by an expert in the field for other
experts. Examples: MD, Professor, or PhD
• Articles undergo peer review process before
publication.
• Authors of articles always cite their sources in the
form of footnotes or bibliographies.
• Articles use specialized jargon of the discipline.
• Usually black and white, with few graphics
NonScholarly Periodicals
• Although they may be acceptable for your
English 110 paper you need to question these
articles before using them in your assignments
– Bias
– Opinion of …?
General-Interest
(including big newspapers)
• Provides info in general manner to a broad
audience or to members of a trade
• Articles written by a reporter or a freelance writer.
• Language of articles often geared to an educated
audience, no subject expertise assumed.
• No peer review process – polls, surveys, etc.
• Sources are sometimes cited, but there is rarely a
bibliography.
– May refer to research that you will need a librarian
to help you find
• 1-3 sources at the end of the article is not a scholarly article
Popular Magazine
• Articles are short and written in simple language.
• Little depth to the content of the articles.
• The purpose is to entertain, not necessarily to
inform.
• Information published is often second- or third-hand.
• The original source of information is obscure.
• Articles are written by staff members or freelance
writers.
• Purpose of magazine is to sell and advertise.
Internet Sources
• Your instructor may have told you that you can
not use Internet sources.
– This usually does not mean that you can not use
that Internet. Using something that is published
only on the Internet, a web site, blog or wiki are
sources that are not considered scholarly.
– If the item was originally published in print and
was considered scholarly in the print format the
Internet or online version is also scholorly.
Questions to ask yourself when
using the Internet…
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What type of website is it?
Who is behind the website?
Is the information supported with verifiable evidence?
Does it promote an opinion or political agenda
Selling a service or product
Offering tips/advice
News or Blogs
Governmental
Scholarly article
Wikipedia-type