Popular writing
How can I use this?
Understanding and identifying popular writing helps you evaluate sources to determine if they're appropriate to include in your paper or project.
What is popular writing?
Scientific discoveries are reported to people through both popular and scholarly writing.
Popular publications (also called consumer publications) aim to inform readers about issues of common interest to the general public. Examples of popular writing which many of you are familiar with include publications such as the Vancouver Sun and Maclean's.
Image credits: [1]
Characteristics of popular writing
Purpose:
- Inform
- Entertain
- Sell products
- Promote a viepoint
Audience:
- General public
Author:
- Journalists who may or may not have subject expertise
Content:
- Simple, non-technical language
- Many graphics, photographs, and illustrations
- Rarely cites other sources
- Submitted articles are only reviewed by the editor of the publication
Examples: Newspapers
Examples: Magazines
Image credits
Microsoft. 2012. Microsoft images: MP900178526 [online]. Available from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?ex=2&qu=babies#ai:MP900178526%7Cmt:2%7C [accessed 22 May 2012].