Specific Details:

• Word processed, single-spaced
• Written in standard English, precise language
• Complete bibliographic citation for the source being reviewed at the top of the review
• Length: approximately 300 to 500 words
• Deadline: Please submit these assignments in written form to the instructor no later than the start of class on the due date
• Intended audience: other educated people who have some familiarity with the subject matter dealt with in the information source

Your reviews should be both:

• Descriptive: tell what the information source is and does
• Evaluative: tell how well it does what it aims to do; identify strengths and shortcomings

Descriptive comments might include:

• Major objectives or purposes of the information source and whether these are made clear within the source itself
• Scope of the source
• Intended audience
• Description of physical format
• Organization and arrangement of the source

Evaluative comments (both favorable and negative) might include:

• Ease of use
• How well the source meets its stated or implied objectives
• Style and quality of writing
• Similarity to other sources
• Quality of indexing, illustrations, maps, etc.
• Cost (Does the source give good value for its cost?)

Tips:

• Do not: use vague and general statements that cannot be substantiated
  • "They put a lot of work into this"
  • "This is a good reference tool"
  • "It's well-written"
  • "I could not find what I needed"
• Do: point out specific virtues or failings of the source
  • "This database does not support subject searching"
  • "This reference source features the following indexes that assist users in locating needed information"

The reviews of books and electronic publications published in Choice (Branson Periodicals Z1035 C452), American Reference Books Annual (Branson Reference Z1035.1 A55), and Booklist (Branson Periodicals Z1035 A1 B65) serve as good models for the kinds of information reviews you will write for L SC-311.

You may not review the same information source more than once. However, you may include sources you reviewed in your final annotated bibliography.

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by Susan E. Beck
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM

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