Using a Variety of Resources
Different sources give you different perspectives on your issue, and using a range of source types helps bring in different perspectives.
Newspaper articles
- Good for facts and up-to-date information.
- They often provide little analysis of a topic, and may not provide much background especially if it is an ongoing issue.
- Some newspaper articles can share similarities with popular magazine articles.
Popular Magazine articles
- Good for summarizing information on a topic for the general public.
- They often provide some background, summarize research findings, and may provide some analysis of a topic.
- In addition they sometimes provide the "human side" of an issue by featuring the story of a person or people affected by that issue.
Trade Journal articles
- Good for finding articles written for specific professions (police officer, veterinarian...etc.)
- They may offer analysis of how an issue affects the profession.
Scholarly or Peer-Reviewed or Academic Journal articles
- Good to find results of scientific or academic research.
- They are written for scholars and provide in-depth analysis of a very specific area of your topic.