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English Language Development

This guide is intended for ELD students. The guide has resources and information for your courses.

The terms, periodicals, serials, journals, and magazines are often are used interchangeably. This doesn't mean they are all the same. 

  • Periodicals are publications that are published daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. They include journals, trade publications, and magazines
  • Journals are generally thought of as scholarly and authoritative; articles will include references and citations
  • Magazines are referred to as being popular publications; may have less credibility in an academic environment 
  • Trade or professional publications are meant for a particular industry or profession
  • Serials are publications in any format that are published in a numerical or chronological sequence. They may appear in regular or irregular intervals and are intended to be produced indefinitely. Serials include newspapers, journals, annuals

Types of resources

Provide well-sourced technical information to researchers and expert practitioners

  • appeal to specialists, academics, researchers, post-secondary students
  • authors are experts in their field, affiliated with an institution or university. Author's credentials usually listed.
  • reporting results of original research and experimentation
  • provide in-depth coverage; articles tend to be lengthy
  • use specialized language of the discipline
  • platforms for scholars and researchers to share their research and discoveries with others who are also experts in their field
  • articles reviewed by a panel of experts before acceptance for publication (juried, refereed, peer reviewed)
  • specific sources used in research are included in citations, footnotes, bibliography or reference list

Provide business and industry news and information to workplace professionals

  • publications with a very narrow appeal, targeting particular industries or professions
  • advertising is often geared to the profession
  • provide news about new products and processes, conferences and trade shows, and companies
  • written with a relevant profession in mind, but are generally pretty accessible; lay readers will still be able to understand the articles 
  • authors of trade journal/magazine articles are often members of a relevant field or profession. Usually their professional designation will be indicated
  • sometimes the only source of information about trends in business and industry
  • may include references but will not be as extensive as a scholarly article

Provide information and entertainment to the general reader

  • they have wide readerships; use everyday language
  • rely heavily on advertisements targeted to consumers as a source of revenue
  • they cover ideas, issues, events, personalities, and activities that have popular appeal
  • their appearance is often attractive, with eye-catching graphics, shorter articles, pictures, advertising
  • authors are usually professional writers or journalists. Unsigned articles by staff writers
  • checked for accuracy by the editor, but bibliography or source list rarely provided

Primary, secondary or tertiary

Primary sources-- These come first in the publication cycle: objects, original documents or materials containing firsthand information about a topic. When searching Library databases for these materials use the words "sources" or "documents" in combination with your topic. (i.e. slavery and sources).

  • autobiography / diaries / personal narrative / correspondence
  • description and travel / pictorial works / interview / news
  • fiction / poetry / short stories 

Secondary sources-- tend to come second in the publication cycle and are about an event or primary source.  Secondary sources describe, interpret, analyze, evaluate, explain, comment on, or develop theories related to the primary source. They are written after the fact, with hindsight.

  • scholarly periodicals and books / Articles in scholarly publications /
  • social policy / law & legislation / criticism and interpretation

Tertiary sources-- tend to come last in the publication cycle. Generally called "reference." These works list, compile, digest or index primary or secondary sources and can be a good place to look up facts or get a general overview of a subject.

  • bibliography / dictionaries / encyclopedias / 
  • guidebooks / handbooks, manuals, etc. /
  • DSM5 & International Statistical Classification of Diseases 

Further reading and writing help