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A little about yourself:
I'm quiet, a deep thinker, and what some would call sensitive. I've been told I have a dark, sarcastic sense of humor at times. I enjoy films, all kinds ...continued

Favourite Academic Subject:
Film

Favourite Music:
Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dean Martin, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck

Favourite Movies:
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Gran Torino, Across The Universe

Books, Articles or Websites?
Page 5 / 6
Choosing Books, articles or websites

A good academic paper will be based on research from a variety of information sources. Different types of sources have different strengths and weaknesses. The following table summarizes some of the differences to be aware of:

Books:
ProsReliable overviews
The information found in books is usually based on research and has been checked by editors. Books in the University of Manitoba Libraries collections are selected by librarians who are subject specialists, and who work with faculty to build a collection which supports courses and research. Books also provide good overviews and analysis, and have bibliographies which can lead you to more information on a topic. 		ConsMay Be Dated
Because it takes years to write and publish books, they are not always up to date. Books may also take a very comprehensive view of a topic, when a more detailed analysis is required. Some books are less scholarly than others. It is important to assess the validity, currency (date), and accuracy of the information in the book, as well as the intent of the author.
 
Scholarly Articles:
Pros Specific & Current
Many of the articles found in scholarly journals go through a "peer-review" process, which means that the articles are checked by other experts in the same fields. The information is based on extensive research and is considered to be reliable. Scholarly journals take less time to publish than books, and are a good source of current research. Scholarly articles contain citations to the research used in their construction, so you can verify the author's ideas, and see other materials related to the topic .		 Cons Specialized information
Scholarly journals include information of academic interest, so they are not the best sources for general interest topics. They do not include up-to-the minute news or current events information.
 
Popular Magazines and Newspapers:
ProsCurrent Events, pop culture & news
Popular magazine articles focus on issues of current interest. Magazine articles are usually approved by an editor. The information is aimed at a general reading audience and is often meant to entertain as well as inform. 		Cons Not Scholarly & Commercial
Popular magazines do not undergo a peer-review process and are generally not based on extensive research. The articles are written by journalists or freelance writers. Generally, magazines do not include references, so you cannot trace the origins of the writer's ideas. Also, magazines are often written for a specific audience and may contain bias. Magazines must sell advertising in order to be published, and advertisers can also influence the content of stories.
 
Websites:
ProsCurrent Information, Easily Accessible
Web sites provide up-to-the minute news and information about current events, trends, and controversial topics. Search engines like Google make information easy to find. 		ConsOften unreliable, usually not scholarly
Web sites can be inaccurate or biased, and sometimes outdated.Search engines can be programmed to give paying websites more prominence in search results. Scholarly information is usually hard to find on the open web, and articles found in Google Scholar often work on a pay-per-view basis.
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Footnotes
Page Content By:
University of Manitoba Libraries
(Last Revised Sep 11, 2007)		 Contact:
Information Literacy
betty_braaksma@umanitoba.ca
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University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
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