Skip to Main Content

ENGR 310: Technical Writing

Library resources for ENGR 310: Technical Writing

What's the Difference between Scholarly and Popular Articles?

 
  Scholarly Articles Popular Articles
Good for... Developing and supporting your research Figuring out your research topic
Authorship Written by scholars/experts in the field; names and affiliations are clearly states Written by staff writers or journalists; names and affiliations may not be clearly stated
Publisher Published by university presses or professional associations Published by for-profit corporations
Peer-Review Rigorously vetted by board of experts May go through an editing/fact checking process
Focus Focus is on describing the research that was conducted Focus is more general; on the implications of the research and not the research itself
Format Written structurally (introduction, methodology, discussion, conclusion) Written narratively
Language Language is formal; uses jargon/academic terminology Language is informal
Sources Sources are cite throughout the text; a reference section is included at the end Sources may be cited throughout the text; usually does not include a reference section at the end
Audience Written for other researchers or professionals Written for the general public
Examples Ataie et al., Accelerating patterned vascularization using granular hydrogel scaffolds and surgical micropuncture. Small. 2024 Feb 22. National Institutes of Health. A new approach to tissue engineering improves blood vessel formation in rats. Medicalxpress. 2024 Mar 15.

Questions for Evaluating Sources

Consider these aspects when determining if an article, book, or journal is reliable:

  • Authorship: Look at who created the source. Does the author have an institutional affiliation, educational background, or publication history that makes them a trustworthy source? Can you easily find information about them, like an institutional email address, a personal website, or a LinkedIn profile?
  • Subject expertise: Look for evidence in the source that supports the argument or research. Does the author mention previous or related research? Do they cite other reliable sources? Do they explain their research methods in-depth? Do they include references? 
  • Publisher: Look at the company that published the book or journal. Are they a reputable publisher? Is it a peer-reviewed journal? 
  • Currency: Look at when the source was published. How up-to-date is the information being presented? How old is the information being cited? 

Consider these aspects when determining if a website is reliable:

  • Website URL: Check the URL of the website you are on. URLs ending in .gov, .org, or .edu are generally considered to be reliable. URLs ending in .com or .net can be reliable, but you should look more deeply into the organization or individual that runs the website.
  • Publisher: Look into the organization or individual that runs the website. Trustworthy websites will make it clear what organization owns it, and should have “About Us” sections with pictures and bios of the people running the organization. It’s good practice to also Google the organization to get an unbiased idea of what it is and who is running it. Websites owned by government offices, academic institutions, professional organizations or associations, or nonprofit organizations are generally reliable. Ones owned by for-profit companies or individual people you should be more careful with.
  • Website presentation: Look for simple things like spelling errors, a weird/old layout, or excessive pop-ups/ads. If a website has a lot of editing errors/weirdness, the information is most likely not reliable.

Consider these aspects when determining if a news source is reliable:

  • News type: Determine what type of news you are reading. Usually this can be done by considering the article's intent. Straight news reporting aims to inform, news analysis aims to explain and interpret, opinion aims to persuade, entertainment aims to entertain, advertising aims to sell, and propaganda aims to provoke. Straight news reporting tends to be the most reliable as it mitigates the most bias. News analysis and opinion can be a reliable way to learn about a topic if they are written by experts, but they do introduce bias. Entertainment news, advertising, and propaganda are not reliable sources of news coverage. 
  • The 7 standards of quality journalism: Are the 7 standards of quality journalism present in the news you are reading? These standards are set by the Society of Professional Journalists, and they are what reliable news source aim to include in each article. These standards are: including multiple credible sources, avoiding bias, providing documentation, treating subjects fairly, verifying information prior to publishing, presenting balanced takes on a topic, and giving context. Try to look out for these standards while reading a news source.