COLS and EDUC

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Tips and Tricks for Studying
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U.S. Department of Education

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Current

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  Popular Magazines Scholarly Journals
           

Authors  

 

Usually staff or freelance writers Specialists or experts in their field

 

 

May not be identified Always named 

 

 

Credentials usually not given Credentials and professional affiliations are usually given

 

 

Not directly involved in the ideas, events, and work they are reporting Reporting on findings or observations from their original research

Content

 

Written for a large general audience Written for professionals in their field

 

 

Language is non-technical Language and tone are serious, scholarly, and often technical

 

 

Provides an overview of the subject or information of research previously published in laymen's terms Earliest reports of research findings

 

 

Usually does not include a bibliography identifying sources Bibliography almost always included.

 

 

Glossy illustrations used to complemet the article Illustrations are few but charts and graphs may be used to doucment supporting data

 

 

Many advertisements for popular products Advertisements are absent or only for products/services of interest to the profession

 

 

Cover is designed to be eye-catching Cover designed to be informative

Editorial

 

Content is evaluated by editors  Content is evaluated by other experts in the field, referred to as "peer-reviewed"

 

 

Fact-checking is careful, but not extensive Standards of content and documentation are stringent

 

 

Printed for the entertainment value Printed to inform industry professionals of latest research findings 

 

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