Article Types
You may have noticed that there were several different types of articles listed on the previous page. The table below provides more information about these article types:
(Adapted from D. Isbell ASU West)
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Subject
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Purpose
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Authors
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Appearance
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Scholarly Journal Articles
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Specialized subjects
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Extend knowledge in a field
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Scholars or researchers
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Plain format; little to no color; no ads
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Magazine Articles
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General, popular subjects
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Inform or entertain
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Journalists or staff reporters |
Glossy; photos, graphics; lots of ads
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Newspaper Articles
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General, current-events subjects
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Inform on current events, some entertainment
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Journalists or staff reporters
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Typically black and white; lots of photos; ads
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Reference Articles
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General established knowledge (Encyclopedia-type Information) |
Inform reader about basic facts and knowledge |
Scholars and publishers |
Typically text-based; may have some images |
Using Information Strategically
With knowledge of the different types of library information, you can begin thinking of ways to search for information strategically. For instance, if you are not very knowledgeable about a topic, you might begin with a reference article to get needed background information. If your topic is current or controversial, you might look for a magazine or newspaper article. If your research requires a great deal of in-depth information, you might focus on scholarly article or book resources.