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ENGL 3235 - Information Design

What is a scholarly source?

Differentiating between scholarly & non-scholarly/popular information

Scholarly information can be described as information by and for scholars or academic audiences. Scholarly information is peer-reviewed, a process by which other scholars fact check the work to ensure accuracy. Popular or non-scholarly information, on the other hand, does is not peer-reviewed, nor is it written by an expert/scholar of the topic being discussed. 

Characteristics of non-scholarly/popular information: 

  • Contains images, often attention-grabbing images 
  • Littered with ads or advertisements 
  • Author is not an expert in the field being discussed 

Example Link: Popular 

Example Link: Scholarly 

Scholarly vs. Popular Infomration

Scholarly vs Popular Sources

Differences Between Scholarly and Popular Sources
Characteristic Scholarly Sources Popular Sources
Author Experts in the field Journalists or general writers
Audience Academics, researchers, students General public
Language Specialized terminology General vocabulary
Review Process Peer-reviewed Edited, not peer-reviewed
Citations Extensive references Few or no citations
Purpose Share original research Inform or entertain
Format Structured (abstract, methodology, results, etc.) Varied, often informal

Don't have a CCOW when evaluating your sources!

CCOW Source Evaluation Method

Evaluate Your Sources
CCOW Element Description Questions to Ask
Credentials Evaluate the author's qualifications and expertise.
  • Who created this information?
  • What are their qualifications?
  • Are they an expert in the field?
Claims Examine the statements made and evidence provided.
  • What specific claims are being made?
  • Is there evidence to support these claims?
  • Are the claims logical and consistent?
Objectives Consider the purpose behind the information.
  • Why was this information created?
  • Who is the intended audience?
Worldview Analyze the broader perspective of the information.
  • What assumptions underlie this information?
  • How does it fit into the larger discourse on the topic?
  • Are alternative viewpoints considered?

CCOW is the intellectual property of Anthony Tardiff of Gonzaga University, and I am using his work via a Creative Commons License (CC-BY).

Logical Fallacies

Common Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacies Examples
Fallacy Type Description Example
Ad Hominem Attacking the person instead of the argument. "You can't trust Javier's opinion on climate change; he's not even a scientist!"
Straw Man Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack. "People who support space exploration want to waste money while people starve on Earth."
Appeal to Ignorance Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false. "No one has ever proven UFOs aren't real, so they must exist."
False Dilemma Presenting two options as the only possibilities. "You're either with us or against us."
Slippery Slope Arguing that a small step will lead to a chain of events resulting in a significant impact. "If we allow students to redo their assignments, soon they'll expect to retake entire courses."
Circular Reasoning When the conclusion of an argument is used as a premise. "This movie is the best because it’s my favorite."
Red Herring Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the main issue. "Why worry about climate change when there are so many homeless people in our city?"