English: Citing Sources

Evaluating resources is much like having a conversation--you ask questions to learn more about the resource (author, main ideas, etc.) and to determine how it relates to your research (relevancy). This is also a time to determine if your source "knows" what it is talking about (accuracy, authority. etc.)

• Cite the source using MLA style

• Describe the main ideas, arguments, themes, theses, or methodology, and identify the intended audience.

• Explain the author’s expertise, point of view, and any bias they may have.

• Compare to other sources on the same topic that you have also cited to show similarities and differences.

• Explain why each source is useful for your research topic and how it relates to your topic.

• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source.

• Identify the observations or conclusions of the author. 

Remember: Annotations are original descriptions that you create after reading the document. When researching, you may find journal articles that provide a short summary at the beginning of the text. This article abstract is similar to a summary annotation. You may consult the abstract when creating your evaluative annotation, but never simply copy it as that would be considered plagiarism. 

APA Citations Style Guide [Cornell]

Chicago Manual of Style

MLA Formatting and Style Guide [Purdue]

Other Style Guides (MLA, APA, CSE, etc.)