| If you need... | Try using... |
|---|---|
| Expert evidence | Scholarly articles, books, and statistical data |
| Public or individual opinion on an issue | Newspapers, magazines, and websites |
| Basic facts about an event | Newspapers, books, encyclopedia (for older and well-known events) |
| Eye-witness accounts | Newspapers, primary source books, social media (for current events) |
| A general overview of a topic | Books or encyclopedias |
| Information about a very recent topic | Websites, newspapers, magazines, and social media |
| Local information | Newspapers, websites, and books |
| Information from professionals working in the field | Trade or professional publications |
Scholarly Sources can refer to peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books.
Covers very specific topics or narrow fields of research.
The content is written by experts in a particular field of study -
Purpose: Sharing original research or analyzing others' findings.
Cites all source materials used and is usually subject to "peer review" prior to publication.
Primary audience: Fellow experts and students studying the field.
Content: Sophisticated and advanced compared to articles found in general magazines, or professional/trade journals.
Remember! Scholarly work is:
Here is an interactive resource from North Carolina State University Libraries
Click the link to view aspects of a scholarly articles Anatomy of a Scholarly Article .
Covers a wide range of sources, including newspapers and magazines.
Purpose: to inform a wide array of readers about issues of interest and are much more informal in tone and scope.
Examples: General news, business and entertainment publications such as Time Magazine, Business Weekly, Vanity Fair.
National Geographic, Scientific American, Psychology Today are types of special interest publications that are considered popular not specifically written for academic audience.
Popular sources