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TALON MODULE 2: Topic Development and Source Selection
Popular vs. Scholarly: How to Tell the Difference

You have to think about who created the information and why it was created.

CRITERIA POPULAR SCHOLARLY
Who is the intended audience for it? Directed towards a general audience; assumes no special knowledge of the topic. Directed towards scholars, experts and others knowledgeable about the subject.
Who wrote it? Written by a professional writer or layperson without significant academic or professional credentials in the field. Written by an acknowledged or recognized expert in the field, such as an academic scholar or prominent professional.
What is the content? Consists of general interest items, "hot" topics, opinions, current news or events, or introductory or overview information. Consists of research reports, comprehensive and detailed treatments of a specific area of study, or critical reviews.
How is it written? Uses everyday language that the average person understands. Uses jargon, or terminology specific to the field, that only experts and scholars will fully understand.
Who published it? Published by a trade publisher for mass market sales. Published by a scholarly or academic press for a limited interest market such as libraries and specialists in the field.
Why was it written? Written to inform the general public about a subject of mass appeal. Written to share the results of new research or to inform other experts of a new discovery or theory.

Concept & Design by Laurie Preston
Content Authored by
Laurie Preston & Jack Bales
Reviewed/Updated
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