When we think of "finding an article" we often think of newspapers or magazines. But there are several kinds of articles your assignments might require:
News - From newspapers reporting daily events (New York Times)
Magazine - Often called "popular" articles, these are general or for a specific interest (Time, Discover)
Trade - By and for specific industries (Advertising Age)
Scholarly - Reporting research, written by and for scholars and researchers (American Journal of Psychology)
| Scholarly Articles | Popular Articles | |
| Authorship | Scholars/experts in a field. Authors are always named and their institutional affiliation is given. | Staff writers or journalists. |
| Publisher | University presses, professional associations, research organizations. | For profit corporations. |
| Review | Peer review process by other experts in the field of study. | Fact-checker and/or editor. |
| Audience | Researchers, scholars, other experts. | General public. |
| Content/Length | Usually longer, focusing on a research study, or a review of research literature in a field. | Often shorter, with a more general focus. |
| Language | Technical, discipline specific terminology. | Written for a general reader with easier vocabulary. |
| Sources | Cited in a bibliography adhering to a specific citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) | Usually not cited, and when they are, are not generally standardized. |
| Structure | Usually includes: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, and bibliography. | Specific formats are not followed. |
| Advertising | Some. | Copious. |