Information Literacy

Different types of sources are appropriate for different types of assignments. Assignments such as research papers, posters, and presentations often call for scholarly sources. 

Peer Reviewed Articles:

• Written by an expert in the field,
• Published in a scholarly journal
• Include a bibliography and sources
• Use technical and formal language
• Focus on a specific topic
• Examples of Scholarly Journals: American Journal of Sociology, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Nursing Science Quarterly

Scholarly books:

• Written by an expert in the field
• Published by a scholarly publisher
• Intended to be read by other experts

News Sources: 

• Articles written by journalists
• Meant to inform reader of current events
• Usually do not include bibliography/citations
• Examples: New York Times, The Economist

Popular Magazines:

• Focus on entertainment, lifestyle, hobbies
• Meant to entertain readers
• Examples: Vogue, Rolling Stone

How can you tell if a source is scholarly?