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WRIT 201 (Jana Parsons): Source Types Review

This guide will provide an overview of research strategies and help you complete the research requirements for WRIT 201.

Little Seagull Handbook Reference Pages

cover art for Little Seagull Handbook, 4e.

Required for all WRIT 101 sections beginning Fall 2023: Little Seagull Handbook, 4e. Can be purchased online or in the Cottage Bookstore. 

This section of the LibGuide corresponds with Section R-1: Doing Research, Pages 116-128. 

What are primary and secondary sources? - University of Houston Libraries

Primary and Secondary Sources - Colorado State University Morgan Library

Journals vs. Popular Sources

A periodical is published at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly) throughout the year. They can be published in print, online, or both, and some content can also be online exclusive content that does not appear in print. There are different types of periodicals that you can find in a library databases:

Journal (peer-reviewed or not): includes articles written by scholars in an academic or professional field, which are often peer-reviewed. Written for other professionals or academics in the same field with the intent furthering discourse (conversation) in a particular field. If a journal is peer-reviewed it means that it has standards for publication and all articles must undergo a review process to see if standards are met. 

Trade Magazine/Journal: usually written for a particular industry such as business, finance, fashion, etc. These articles are intended to share industry insight, best practices, new innovations, for professionals in that industry. An example of a trade journal is Advertising Age. 

Magazine (popular): written for a general audience and includes articles on diverse topics, general interest, and current events. Usually these are written by journalists. You will also find advertisements and opinion pieces in popular magazines. An example of a popular magazine is People or Vanity Fair. 

Newspaper (popular): Newspaper content is usually written by journalists and intended for a general audience and includes articles about current events or public interest topics. Newspapers are usually published daily or weekly and also contain opinion pieces and advertisements. 

Academic or scholarly journal articles often:

  • are written by experts in the field (researchers and scholars)
  • are intended to be read with other researchers, scholars (and even students) in that field
  • use specialized technical language or vocabulary
  • include references lists
  • are longer in length and follow a specific structure 
  • have very little to no advertising

Popular magazine/newspaper articles often:

  • are written by journalists
  • are intended to be read by a general audience
  • use common language understood by most readers
  • might include in-text source attribution, but not always
  • rarely include a list of references
  • are shorter in length
  • contain a lot of advertising
  • contain opinion pieces