Scholarly and Academic Journals
Characteristics of scholarly
journals:
· Most are indexed
in subject-specific databases or print indexes
· Many are published or sponsored by a scholarly society,
professional association, or university department
· Most have list of reviewers (editorial board) at the front
of the journal (peer-reviewed)
· Most have little or no advertising
· Articles are written in the language of the discipline,
and the author assumes the reader has some background knowledge
of the discipline
Examples: Journal of
Reading, Science, Studies in Short Fiction
Characteristics of a
scholarly article:
· The author's credentials
are stated
· The title reflects the contents of the article
· An abstract (summary) precedes the article
· Content is based on original research or the research of
authorities in the field, not personal opinion
· The sources of information used by the author are cited
in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies
In addition, a scientific
article usually includes the following:
· Supporting diagrams
or illustrations
· Introduction or literature review
· Theory or background information
· Statement of subjects discussed
· Methods used
· Results of the study
· Discussion
Professional and Technical Journals
While they may address concerns
in professional fields and are intended for practitioners in those
fields, professional and technical journals do not have the
characteristics of scholarly journals. However, they may
be acceptable for undergraduate research. Check with your instructor
if you have questions regarding their use.
Examples: Chemical
& Engineering News, Aviation Week and Space Technology,
Nursing
News and General Interest Magazines
· Usually published
by commercial enterprises or individuals, occasionally by professional
organizations
· Purpose is to provide information to a broad audience of
concerned citizens, not just to scholars
· Language is geared to any educated audience; a specialized
vocabulary is not necessary
· Articles are written by a member of the editorial staff,
a scholar, or a freelance writer
· Authors sometime cite sources, but usually do not
· Most have an attractive appearance with illustrations and
photographs
· Usually have some advertisements
· Often have a political slant
Examples: National
Geographic, Time, Smithsonian, U. S.
News & World Report, Newsweek
Popular Magazines
· Articles are seldom
signed
· Sources are rarely cited - information can be second or third
hand, original source may not even be known
· Articles are usually short with little depth
· Often published on slick paper, are attractive with a lot
of pictures and graphics, and are full of advertisements
· Published to entertain the reader, sell products, and/or
promote a viewpoint
Examples: Ebony,
Glamour, Parent's, Reader's Digest, Sports
Illustrated, Ladies' Home Journal, McCall's
