TOPIC: How to Identify Scholarly Sources: Journals & Periodicals

• Popular periodicals come in many formats, although often somewhat slick and attractive in appearance.  They contain many graphics (photographs, drawings, etc.)
• These publications rarely, if ever, cite sources.  Information published in such journals is often second or third hand and the original source is sometimes obscure
• Articles are usually very short, written in simple language and are designed to meet a minimal education level.  There is generally little depth to the content of these articles
• Articles are written by staff members or free lance writers
• The main purpose of popular periodicals is to entertain the reader, to sell products (their own or their advertisers), and/or promote a viewpoint

Family Circle

Sports Illustrated

Parents

People Weekly

Reader's Digest

Here is what a typical article in a popular magazine might look like.

Most of the periodicals you have encountered in life--magazines and newspapers available at the grocery store, airport kiosks, and convenience stores--are categorized as "popular" periodicals. That is, they have wide readerships, usually have a profit-oriented purpose of increasing circulation and selling advertising space, and they cover ideas, issues, events, personalities, and activities that have popular appeal.