WR123 Spring 2006 Michael Dembrow, Instr.

This worksheet will give you a good record of each source that you use. It will also give you the basic info. that you'll need to write an annotated-bibliography entry. These questions will not apply to every source you use, but you should try to answer as many of the questions as you can for the sources that you use.

1. Record a complete citation as it will appear on your Works Cited/References page. Be sure to include all the information you will need for the Works Cited. This includes items taken off the Internet or other computer sources.

2. Write a sentence or two about the author. What is his/her occupation, position, education, experience? In your judgment, is the author qualified and reliable?

3. As far as you can tell, what was the author's purpose for writing the article, doing the research, offering the interview?

4. To what audience is the work addressed (general public, scholars, policymakers, teachers, etc.)?

5. Does the author have a bias? What is it? Does s/he make assumptions? What are they? How were you able to tell?

6. What methodology does the author use to collect information? (direct observation, interviews, polls, laboratory experiments, reading, other?)

7. What conclusions did the author reach?

8. Does the evidence support the conclusions? Why or why not?

9. To what degree does this source agree with others you have used? Disagree?

10. Has the author provided you with any supplementary resources--bibliography, annotated bibliography, charts, maps, photographs, index, etc.?

******This worksheet is adapted from "Preparing an Annotation," by Eugene Engeldinger, Wm. D. McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire, August 1988.

RETURN to WR123 Page.