Otis College LibGuides: Annotations and Evaluating Sources: Home

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating sources is a critical aspect of information literacy. It will help you look at how information is created, packaged, and transmitted so you can then put it into context. Further, it will help you create better work, write better papers, and be a better friend.

Any source of information can (and should) be evaluated, whether it is a TikTok video or a scholarly article. When you step back and consider a source, you may realize its information is outdated or otherwise incorrect.

Whenever we encounter information, we subconsciously make judgments about it. The process of evaluating sources prompts you to bring these judgments to a conscious level. This will make how you encounter and use information more fruitful and complex.

Basic Questions to Consider:

Who made it? Why?
Who published it? Why?
Do you trust the creator and/or publisher? Why?
Who is the targeted audience?
When and how was it distributed?
How accurate was the information when it was created? Has anything changed since it was created or published that gives it a new perspective or meaning?
How much of a topic does it cover?
Why is it relevant to me?

Criteria for Evaluating Sources and Writing Annotations

Here are the criteria for evaluating sources, which are used for writing annotations. Notice how the questions we considered above directly relate to these criteria.

All of these criteria are interconnected. They reflect the core concepts of the ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy.