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ENGL 110 Webster Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Fall 2025)

What Type of Article?

Article is a generic term for a piece of writing that is published. College and university class assignments frequently require you to use outside sources. Outside sources are ones you find on your own, not the ones your whole class is reading together. If faculty and instructors are not specific about the kinds of articles required, be sure to ask. 

Scholarly articles

  • Writer's expertise comes from a higher education background in the subject
  • Audience for article is other scholars in the same discipline (subject area)
  • Uses specialized terminology from the discipline
  • Assumes you already know the basics of the subject
  • Original or new knowledge or theory

Magazine articles

  • Writer is usually a reporter or journalist; an expert writer not expert in subject
  • Written for a wide audience, no special knowledge or terminology is necessary
  • Publication deadlines allow for a little more in-depth writing, but may not have time to develop really complex ideas
  • Faculty frequently use magazine articles as readings for class.

Databases

Tip: Use keyword search then use the magazine filter.

Newpaper articles

  • Writer is usually a reporter or journalist; an expert writer not expert in subject
  • Written for a wide audience, no special knowledge or terminology is necessary
  • Reports on current events and issues, but fast deadlines don't allow for in-depth analysis.
  • Faculty frequently use newspaper articles as readings for class.

Databases

Tip: Use keyword search then use the newspaper filter.

What is a "scholarly article" ?