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SPE 115 - Carter/Meza - Fall 2025

Popular Sources

Think magazines and newspapers when you think popular sources. Characteristics of popular sources:

  • written for a general audience by journalists or professional writers.
  • rarely give full citations for sources.
  • usually shorter reads.

Scholarly Sources

Think journals when you think scholarly sources. Characteristics of scholarly sources:

  • written by and for faculty, researchers and other experts in a specific field.
  • use scholarly or technical language.
  • longer articles about research or studies.
  • include full citations for sources.
  • reviewed by multiple specialists/experts in the field of study before being accepted

Remember that book reviews and editorials are not considered scholarly articles, even when found in scholarly journals.

Popular and Scholarly Sources Video

Game! Which source type is it?