UWG1101: Ingram Library Tutorial

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PERIODICALS

Articles from print periodicals may be photocopied within fair use, but periodicals may not be taken out of the Library.

Magazines and Scholarly Journals
The distinction between magazines and scholarly journals is an important one. If your instructor requires you to use "scholarly information" for your term paper, essay, or speech, you should choose a scholarly journal rather than a popular magazine. In broad terms, a magazine is published as a business enterprise, while universities, academic publishers, and/or professional organizations publish journals to disseminate research findings

The following briefly describes the major differences between magazines and scholarly journals:

Magazine Articles

• are about more popular subjects
• are more informal in style
• are for the general public
• are written by journalists and staff writers
• are published for profit
• do not necessarily follow a specific format or structure
• do not usually include a bibliography

Examples of Magazines include: Ebony, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Time and U. S. News and World Report.

Journal Articles

• discuss research in detail


• are written in the jargon of the field for scholarly readers


• are written for and by scholars (usually by college professors)


• are usually "peer reviewed" or "refereed" (approved by experts in the field)


• are usually more structured and may include the following sections: abstract, literature review, methodology, results and conclusion


• include a substantial bibliography

Examples of Journals include: Communication Disorders Quarterly, Educational Research, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Studies in English Literature.

Newspapers
Newspapers are good sources of:

• up-to-date information on current events;
• regional topics and perspectives;
• editorials, opinions, and reviews;
• examining how events and issues were seen at the time they occurred.

The Library subscribes to a number of local, regional, and national newspapers while many more are available electronically through GALILEO.

The most recent issue of each newspaper is kept in the Browsing area on the Main Floor.
Back issues are available in microform in the Periodicals Collection.

Ask for assistance if you are having difficulty:

• finding a magazine, journal or newspaper article
• locating material on microfilm
• using microfilm or microfiche
• making copies of microfilm or microfiche

For more information, contact the Reference Desk at 678-839-6495.