For this course you will need to find scholarly (or academic) sources rather than popular ones. This distinction applies most often to the use of articles found in journals, periodicals, and magazines. Many of the same distinctions apply to books. The author’s credentials, the writing style, the presence (or lack) of footnotes, and the type of publisher (university press or mass-market publishing house) should all be looked at when evaluating the quality of a particular book. 

Understanding the Peer Review Process

What is peer review? How do articles get peer reviewed? Why is peer review important? 
Watch this short video from NC State University Libraries on the peer review process:

Anatomy of a Scholarly Article
This quick video from NC State University Libraries highlights the different parts of a scholarly article, helping you recognize a scholarly article when you see it.