Annotations & Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Sources 

Evaluating sources is a critical aspect of information literacy. 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, deepening your capacity to engage with information effectively. You will consider how information is created, packaged, and transmitted so you can then put it into context. These skills help you to 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 When you step back and evaluate a source, you may realize its information is outdated or otherwise incorrect.

Some questions to consider:

• Who made it? Why?
• Who published it? Why?
• Do you trust the creator and/or publisher? Why or why not?
• 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 adds a new perspective or meaning?
• How much of a topic does it cover?
• Why is it relevant to me?

What are Annotations?

At Otis, annotations are critical and descriptive evaluations of a source used for your research. Writing annotations prompts you to think deeply about the information you encounter, particularly the authority, perspective, reliability, validity, accuracy, and timeliness of information sources.

While a citation indicates where your information came from and how to find it, an annotation provides a detailed, analytical explanation of what the source is and why you are using it.

Criteria for Evaluative Annotations

• Authority / Credibility
• Audience / Type of Source
• Purpose / Point of View
• Currency
• Coverage / Scope
• Relevance

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