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Biology: Magazines/Journals

Writing a research paper for science

Periodicals

Periodicals are publications that are printed and distributed at regular intervals. Some types of periodicals:
 

Magazine, newspapers, journals            

SJCC Library subscribes to a few periodicals in print (the physical format), but most of collection of periodicals can be accessed online through our databases. 

View a copy of the library guide Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines

Peer Review Process for Scholarly Journals

What does it mean to be refereed (peer reviewed)?

Diagram of peer review process

Journals are considered refereed if the articles that are published in that journal have gone through the process highlighted above. Articles published in refereed journals are highly respected because of the rigorous peer review process that they are put through.

Peer Reviewed Video

Academic Journal Characteristics

academic journals

--Purpose is for educating

--Articles written by scholars and experts

--Articles are indepth and long

--Language of articles is technical

--Sources are cited

--No advertising

--Graphs, charts and illustrations are used to show research

Magazine Characteristics

 

magazines

--Purpose is to entertain

--Articles written by journalists

--Uses flashy pictures and headlines to attract readers

--Normally no citations included

--Articles about current events and culture

--Published monthly and sometimes weekly

--Written for the general public thus writing is easy to understand

 

Newspaper Characteristics

--Purpose is for entertaining

--Articles written by journalists

--Articles published daily

--Usually no citation

--Articles written to report current events

--Articles are often short in length

--Pictures and headlines used to grab attention