SCHOLARLY:
Have a sober, serious look
May contain graphs and charts, but few glossy pages or pictures
Contain few advertisements
Usually have continuous pagination per year or volume
Always cite their sources in footnotes or bibliographies
Articles are written by experts or researchers in the field of study
Report on original research or experimentation
Main purpose is to educate the reader

EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS:
American Economic Review
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of Marriage and the Family
Modern Fiction Studies
Sex Roles: A Journal of Research

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POPULAR:
Often slick and attractive in appearance
Contain many advertisements
Contain lots of graphics
Restart pagination with each issue
These publications rarely cite sources
Articles are usually short and written in simple language
Generally little depth to the content of these articles
Main purpose is to entertain the reader

EXAMPLES OF POPULAR MAGAZINES:
Ebony
People Weekly
Readers Digest
Sports Illustrated
Time
Vogue

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TRADE:
Written for people employed or studying in a particular field
Articles rarely contain bibliographies
Contain graphics
Contain advertisements aimed specifically to its audience
Considered informative, but not scholarly

EXAMPLES OF TRADE PERIODICALS:
Chronicle of Higher Education
Library Journal
Phi Delta Kappan
Psychology Today
Scientific American

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McNEESE LIBRARY |  UNIVERSITY |  FRESHMAN ORIENTATION MATERIALS

This page last updated June 24, 2007.