The document provides resources for researching scholarly and popular sources, including three videos and descriptions of each. The first video describes the differences between popular and scholarly sources and tips for searching databases. The second video also discusses popular, scholarly and trade sources and database searching. The third animated video contrasts appropriate research using scholarly sources versus simply searching online. The document also includes sections on annotated bibliographies and describing scholarly, peer reviewed and credible sources.

1. Required Resources
Multimedia
Cendejas, M. (2015). Scholarly and popular sources (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved
from
https://ashford.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Scholarly+and+P
opular+Resources%281%29/0_ue1ih9qt
· This video addresses the differences between popular and
scholarly sources. It also provides some tips on how to search
for specific types of sources through various databases in order
to determine what sources are scholarly and can be used in a
research paper. This article will assist you with your Scholarly
Sources and Research discussion.
Fabian, R. (Writer & Director), Horner, J., Rotkowski, R.,
Yeager, K. (Writers), & Baber, J. (Producer). (2011). Effective
internet search: Basic tools and advanced strategies (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved
from
https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=43788
&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref
· The full version of this video is available through the Films
On Demand database in the Ashford University Library. This
video addresses the differences between popular, scholarly and
trade. It also provides some tips on how to search for specific
types of sources through various databases in order to determine
what sources are scholarly and can be used in a research paper.
This article will assist you with your Scholarly Sources and
Research discussion and your Introduction, Thesis Statement,
and Annotated Bibliography assignment this week.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an
external site.Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to
an external site.
Library La Trobe University. (2009, September 16). Why can’t I
just Google? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external

2. site. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/hqjJyqfceLw
· This video provides an animated dialog between two college
students in which one appropriately researched her sources for
the assignment and the other student simply did a web search
and used sources that were not scholarly within his paper. The
student who did better on the paper explains the issues with
finding sources via a web search compared to scholarly sources
one can find in the school library. This article will assist you
with your Scholarly Sources and Research discussion this week.
2
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Title of the Paper in Full Goes Here
Student Name Here
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Date Submitted
Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
Introduction: After reviewing the Ashford Writing Center’s
Introduction Guidelines and doing further research on your
topic, develop an introduction paragraph of at least 150 words
that clearly explains the topic, the importance of further
research, and ethical implications.

3. Thesis Statement: After viewing the Ashford Writing Center’s
Thesis Tutorial, type your thesis statement here. Please note
that the thesis statement will be included as the last sentence in
the introduction paragraph when writing your final paper.
Annotation 1:
Reference: Include a complete reference for the source. Format
your reference according to APA style for a journal article or
other scholarly source as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Annotation: In your own words, explain how this source
contributes to answering your research question. See Sample
Annotated Bibliography from the Ashford Writing Center for
additional guideance. Your annotation should be one to two
paragraphs long (150 words or more) and fully address purpose,
content, evidence, and relation to other sources you found on
this topic following this order:
1. In the first sentence, explain the purpose (or the main point)
of the source. Then, describe the content and elements of the
source.
2. After explaining the overall structure of the source,
summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or
her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical
documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
3. Next, explain how the source relates to other sources you
have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how
it contradicts or supports these sources.
4. Finally, briefly describe how the source answers to your
research question.
Annotation 2:
Reference: Include a complete reference for the source. Format
your reference according to APA style for a journal article or
other scholarly source as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Annotation: In your own words, explain how this source
contributes to answering your research question. Your

4. annotation should be one to two paragraphs long (150 words or
more) and fully address purpose, content, evidence, and relation
to other sources you found on this topic following this order:
1. In the first sentence, explain the purpose (or the main point)
of the source. Then, describe the content and elements of the
source.
2. After explaining the overall structure of the source,
summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or
her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical
documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
3. Next, explain how the source relates to other sources you
have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how
it contradicts or supports these sources.
4. Finally, briefly describe how the source answers to your
research question.
Annotation 3:
Reference: Include a complete reference for the source. Format
your reference according to APA style for a journal article or
other scholarly source as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Annotation: In your own words, explain how this source
contributes to answering your research question. Your
annotation should be one to two paragraphs long (150 words or
more) and fully address purpose, content, evidence, and relation
to other sources you found on this topic following this order:
1. In the first sentence, explain the purpose (or the main point)
of the source. Then, describe the content and elements of the
source.
2. After explaining the overall structure of the source,
summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or
her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical
documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
3. Next, explain how the source relates to other sources you
have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how
it contradicts or supports these sources.

5. 4. Finally, briefly describe how the source answers to your
research question.
Annotation 4:
Reference: Include a complete reference for the source. Format
your reference according to APA style for a journal article or
other scholarly source as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Annotation: In your own words, explain how this source
contributes to answering your research question. Your
annotation should be one to two paragraphs long (150 words or
more) and fully address purpose, content, evidence, and relation
to other sources you found on this topic following this order:
1. In the first sentence, explain the purpose (or the main point)
of the source. Then, describe the content and elements of the
source.
2. After explaining the overall structure of the source,
summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or
her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical
documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
3. Next, explain how the source relates to other sources you
have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how
it contradicts or supports these sources.
4. Finally, briefly describe how the source answers to your
research question.
Annotation 5:
Reference: Include a complete reference for the source. Format
your reference according to APA style for a journal article or
other scholarly source as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Annotation: In your own words, explain how this source
contributes to answering your research question. Your
annotation should be one to two paragraphs long (150 words or
more) and fully address purpose, content, evidence, and relation
to other sources you found on this topic following this order:

6. 1. In the first sentence, explain the purpose (or the main point)
of the source. Then, describe the content and elements of the
source.
2. After explaining the overall structure of the source,
summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or
her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical
documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
3. Next, explain how the source relates to other sources you
have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how
it contradicts or supports these sources.
4. Finally, briefly describe how the source answers to your
research question.
Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources
Source type
What is it?
Examples
Best used for
Scholarly
A source written by scholars or academics in a field. The
purpose of many scholarly sources is to report on original
research or experimentation in order to make such information
available to the rest of the scholarly community. The audience
for scholarly sources is other scholars or experts in a field.
Scholarly sources include references and usually use language
that is technical or at a high reading level.
*Note: Different databases may define “scholarly” in slightly
different ways, and thus a source that is considered “scholarly”
in one database may not be considered “scholarly” in another
database. The final decision about the appropriateness of a
given source for a particular assignment is left to the instructor.
Scholarly Journals
· Journal of Management Information Systems

7. · American Journal of Public Health
· Early Childhood Research Quarterly
Scholarly Books (published by a university press or other high-
quality publisher)
· Shari’a Politics: Islamic Law and Society in the Modern World
· The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War
· The Hidden Mechanics of Exercise: Molecules That Move Us
Journal articles:
· Recent research on a topic
· Very specific topics or narrow fields of research
· NOT good for an introduction to or broad overview of a topic
Books:
· In-depth information and research on a topic
· Putting a topic into context
· Historical information on a topic
Peer Reviewed
A publication that has gone through an official editorial process
that involves review and approval by the author’s peers (experts
in the same subject area). Many (but not all) scholarly
publications are peer reviewed.
*Note: even though a journal is peer reviewed, some types of
articles within that journal may not be peer reviewed. These
might include editorials or book reviews.
**Note: some publications (such as some trade journals) can be
peer reviewed but not scholarly. This is not common.
See “Scholarly Journals” above
Books go through a different editorial process and are not
usually considered to be “peer reviewed”. However, they can
still be excellent scholarly sources.
See above

8. Credible
A source that can be trusted to contain accurate information that
is backed up by evidence or can be verified in other trusted
sources. Many types of sources can fall into this category.
*Note: The final decision about the appropriateness of a given
source for a particular assignment is left to the instructor.
See above. Also:
· Newspapers
· Magazines
· Books
· Trade journals or publications
· Government websites
· Websites from educational institutions (like universities)
· Websites or other publications from reputable organizations
(like the Mayo Clinic)
· Encyclopedias (general or subject)
Many websites could be considered credible. The more
information provided about the source, the more likely they are
to be credible. Look for information about the author and/or the
organization, how recently it was published, the intended
audience, the intended purpose, and whether there is evidence
of bias.
· Basic/general/background information about a topic
· Current events
· Local news
· Statistical data
· Information about specific organizations or companies (look at
the organization’s or company’s website, or look for articles in
newspapers or trade journals)
· Government information
· Information about popular culture
· Opinions or commentaries
· Topics of general interest

9. Ashford University Library, June 2015, CR 0130415