Better Sources
Annotations
What is an annotation?
An annotation provides a brief summary and/or assessment of a source. It includes more than just citation details. It offers insight into the source’s content, purpose, and how it relates to the research topic. Important: Annotations are not direct quotes from the source. Instead, they reflect the researcher's interpretation of the source material and its relevance. Therefore, users of this site are encouraged to read both the annotations and the sources before drawing conclusions from a given research topic.
Annotations also indicate how a researcher intends to use a source. Here are some common intended Uses:
- Supporting Evidence
- Opposing Viewpoint
- Context
Supporting Evidence: Supporting evidence is the information, facts, or examples that help to prove, strengthen, or clarify a claim, argument, or opinion. It shows that what someone is saying is credible and based on something real or logical.
Opposing Viewpoint: An opposing viewpoint is a perspective or opinion that goes against the main argument or claim. It represents what someone who disagrees with the researcher's position might say. Opposing viewpoints can bring balance to a research project.
Context: Context refers to the circumstances, background, or setting in which something occurs or is said. It helps provide meaning to an event, statement, or situation by considering the factors surrounding it. Context helps provide a "bigger picture" of why something is happening, why it matters, or how it should be interpreted.
Source Levels
What is a primary source?
Primary sources are "first-order" sources that contain direct findings on a particular topic. These may include peer-reviewed journal articles, reports from official public sources, or direct interviews with the person(s) involved. Primary sources often contain the most valuable and reliable facts and information. However, they are also often the least accessible. Hint: Public libraries often provide free access to research databases to help you discover reliable information.
What is a secondary source?
Secondary sources are "second-order" sources that discuss the information found in primary sources. They do not provide the facts, but they analyze, synthesize, and report them. These sources may include literature reviews and news reports. Secondary sources are handy for understanding information from primary sources. However, secondary sources are not neutral. They reflect the biases of the person(s) reporting on the information. Hint: Use the Media Bias / Fact Check tool to determine the credibility of your sources.
What is a tertiary source?
Tertiary sources are "third-order" sources that provide commentary on a topic and may cite primary and secondary sources as supporting evidence. These are the least reliable sources and often reflect a hidden, or not-so-hidden, agenda. Tertiary sources can provide good jumping-off points for better research. These sources may include commentators (e.g., Rachel Maddow, Tucker Carlson, etc.), blog articles, YouTube think pieces, op-eds, political debates, and gossip at the coffee shop. Hint: Pay attention to the references cited in a tertiary source. They may lead you to higher-quality sources to use in your research.
