At Otis, we write evaluative annotations. These provide a detailed explanation of how you evaluated specific sources. They are required for some assignments.
ANNOTATIONS provide a detailed explanation of your information evaluation process.
Usually, they explain the relevancy of a source to your project---why you used the source, why it's noteworthy, and other comments.
At Otis, we have expanded annotations to include details about why you trust---or don't trust---a source. You will be prompted to consider the reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view of sources.
Depending on the level of your class and guidelines set by your professor, your annotations should cover 3-6 of these criteria:
Annotations done "the Otis way" encourage you to think critically about any information source. They also help assess your information literacy skills.
Check out these sample annotations.
Related LibGuides:
"Otis College graduates will be able to assemble, evaluate, and ethically use information from diverse sources to accomplish a specific purpose."
We are all simultaneously creators and consumers of information in an ever-changing landscape. Information literacy is a set of skills and practices that encourage you to think critically about the information you use and produce.
Information literacy guides you to effectively evaluate and utilize all the different kinds of information that you encounter. Being information literate requires developing habits that engage you in a self-directed, critical reflection about how you learn. These are important skills for any educated person and have been identified by employers as a desirable skill for college graduates entering the job market (see here: What Employers Want).
This form can support you in writing your annotations. It prompts you with questions related to the criteria for evaluating sources. Make sure to review and edit the end product!
Basic criteria by level are listed below. Always check the Nest for the actual rubric for your course/assignment.
Source information is RESTATED to support topic and includes TWO annotations that may be from books, database articles, or academic/museum/ professional websites.
Sources must appear as in‐text citations and on a works cited page
Each annotation must include 3 of the following criteria:
Source information is CATEGORIZED to support topic and includes THREE well chosen, quality sources, two of which should be annotated that may be from books, database articles, or academic/museum/professional websites.
Sources must appear as in‐text citations and on a works cited page
Each of the TWO annotations must include all of the following criteria:
Source information ANALYSIS supports topic and includes FOUR quality sources, which include at least
TWO adequate annotations. Analysis may be from database books, articles, academic/museum/professional websites.
Sources must appear as in‐text citations and on a works cited page
Each of the annotations must include all of the following criteria:
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