This week we are focusing on principles of evaluating and documenting the information sources you use in your research. You will practice recording information that identifies a source using the Modern Language Association Style. You will also practice writing an annotation (a brief descripion) of the source and why it is important to your research project.

Please review Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 before you begin this assignment.

Assignment: You must type or word process this assignment to receive credit.

1. Choose the best subject encyclopedia article (do not use Britannica, World Book, Encyclopedia Americana or other general encyclopedias) that provides an overview of your topic. Write an MLA citation using the examples provided in class and on the LIB 101 Course Page: MLA Citation Guidelines.
   
   
2. Write an annotation for the encyclopedia article briefly summarizing the content of the article and focusing on YOUR particular interest in the topic. See the example given in Chapter 6. Please be sure to provide any relevant information you can find about the author.

   TIP: Most encyclopedias include a list of contributors in the first or last volume.

3. In an email to your instructor: fwalls@sccd.ctc.edu , please answer the following:

• Have you done MLA citations before, or is this new for you?
• Describe briefly any system you have used in the past to record information you have found for a paper or other assignment.
• What are the greatest challenges to writing effective annotations? What strategies can you think of to help you save time and write better annotations?
• Please reflect on this assignment: Did you need to ask for help? If you could change the assignment, what would you change?
  

This page is maintained by Francine Walls