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SPE 103 - Jason Fliess - Summer 2024

Popular Sources

Popular Source Section Title Button

Popular resources are written for a large, general audience, and are easily accessible to the public, often free of charge. Popular resources are written to inform, persuade, or entertain their audiences. These sources often answer factual questions like who, what, where, when, why, and how. When you are looking for information about current events, they are a great resource. Some examples of reputable popular resources include:

A few things to remember about popular sources:

  • Popular resources often may not cite their sources.

  • Some popular resources are produced by organizations which have an agenda and want you to be persuaded to look at a given topic in a particular way. 

  • Popular sources can contain opinion/editorials, and news articles. These two types of articles offer very different kinds of information.

Popular, Professional, and Peer-reviewed

Length: 2:24

Opinion versus News

Opinion vs. News Section Title ButtonIt is important to differentiate between opinion articles and news articles. Here's how to tell them apart!
Opinion:
  • Promotes a single viewpoint.
  • May use "I" or "We."
  • More personal tone.
  • Labeled as: opinion, editorial, review, or analysis.
News:
  • Presents a variety of viewpoints.
  • Contains verifiable facts.
  • Uses "they" or "them."
  • Attributes opinions to sources, "he/she said."