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EXSC 3050 - Pasley

Spring 2023. EXSC 3050- Exercise Science and Health Science Resources

Annotations

An annotation is both a summary and and analysis or evaluation of an article.  Typically ranging from one to three paragraphs, an annotation explains what the source (for example, the annotation for an empirical research article might have two sentences each describing the relevant literature, the methodology used by the researchers, the data and results, and a discussion of the most relevant findings and conclusions).  An annotation also examines the article's (or book, book chapter, conference proceeding, etc).strenthgs and weaknesses in an effort to help others determine if the article will be relevant to their research interests and needs.

How to Write an Annotation

Strategies for annotation:

  • Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say?
  • Assess: After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?
  • Reflect: Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/

Example Annotations