"popular, adj. 1. Of a belief, attitude, etc.: prevalent or current among the general public; generally accepted, commonly known. Also (of a disease): †epidemic (obsolete)." OED

"source, n. 4. e. A work, etc., supplying information or evidence (esp. of an original or primary character) as to some fact, event, or series of these. Also, a person supplying information, an informant, a spokesman." OED

Popular sources are a type of source that can be used for an assignment, paper, project, presentation, or creative piece. 

• Their purpose is to entertain and inform a general audience without providing in-depth analysis. 
• Unlike scholarly and peer-reviewed sources, popular sources are not written by experts in the field or scientists, but rather journalists, freelance writers, or editorial staff. 
• Their content typically includes short, feature-length articles, news and general interest topics. 
• Popular sources typically don’t contain citations, abstracts, methodologies, or in-depth information, but focus on a generalized audience.
• Examples: Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and Sports Illustrated

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