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SELECT APPROPRIATE SOURCES
When writing an assigned college level research
paper, make sure you understand how many and exactly which types of sources
you are expected to use in your paper. Often instructors will not allow
you to use sources such as encyclopedia articles, web sites, interviews
with your friends and neighbors or information that is older than five
years. Instructors can also specify that you use sources from professional
journals, as opposed to popular magazines (we will discuss the differences
later in this lesson). It is important to have these requirements clearly
in mind as you explore topics for your paper. Some
of the distinctions to keep in mind are:
General vs. Subject
Specific Resources
General Resources cover a wide range of subject areas.
Subject Specific Resources are limited to a defined subject area.
Scholarly vs. Popular
Resources
Information literate students should be able to recognize the difference
between scholarly or professional journals and what are referred to
as popular magazines. Generally the main distinction is the audience
for which the articles are written. Popular magazines are written for
a general audience and contain little or no documentation of sources.
Journal articles, however, are usually aimed at other professionals
in that field or discipline and usually contain extensive documentation
of work cited in the article.
More disctinctions are outlined in the table below:
| Scholarly Journals |
Popular magazines |
| Published by professional
organizations, universities, research institutions, scholarly
presses. |
Published by commercial/trade
publishers. |
| Contain bibliographies, footnotes,
graphs and charts. Advertisements are rare. |
Contain many graphics and photos,
many full page advertisements, few footnotes and usually no bibliographies. |
Content:
Reports of original research.
In-depth analysis of topics.
Lengthy signed articles.
Statistical information.
Referred/peer reviewed articles.
Substantial book reviews.
Bibliographies and Works cited. |
Content:
Current events and news.
Brief, factual information.
Short articles.
Interviews.
Brief book reviews. |
Primary vs. Secondary
A primary source is first hand information from a person who
witnessed or participated in an event. It may also be scientific data,
statistics, or an official transcript of a government proceeding. Primary
Sources may also be original artwork or works of literature such as
a novel or short stories. Examples include:
- Diaries, memoirs and letters
- Official documents and records
- Original manuscripts
- Legal cases, transcripts, minutes and hearings
- Interviews, oral histories, personal narratives
- Research data and
reports
A secondary source is a description by
a person not present at the event and relying on primary source
documents for information. Secondary sources usually analyze and
interpret primary sources. Examples include:
Encyclopedias
Literary criticism/reviews
Statistical Abstracts
Magazine and Newspaper articles
Books which provide
analysis and overviews
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