Begin with a brief summary of the main ideas presented in the source
Provide the overall thesis or main ideas and most significant contributing evidence
You will mostly paraphrase from the original source (see resources in Moodle for help with this)
A few brief quotes can be used if needed (always include in-text citations with page or paragraph numbers)
Use author names in your summaries and avoid personal pronouns
Avoid the phrase, “the article says…”. Instead, focus on the author(s). Write signal phrases like, “Steinmetz argues that…”.
Use relevant and varied verbs of attribution
Write clear, direct sentences
Maintain an objective tone (you are not making an argument or analyzing the author’s ideas)
Contribution
Add a few sentences to explain how this source contributes to your research question. In other words, what differentiates this source from other sources in your bibliography and how will it interact with the other sources? It might confirm, elaborate, contradict, provide an alternate perspective, etc. If you can’t figure out what role this source plays in the collection, this could be a good indication that it’s not the right source for your project. Each source should help answer your research question, so think about how each source will be used in your essay.
Authority and Credibility
Add a few details that provide the credibility of this source and explain the author’s/authors’ credibility and authority to speak about this issue. Any of the following qualities can demonstrate authority and credibility:
Information about the author’s educational and professional background (or the organization if no named author)
Information about the publication itself (container)
Recency and currency
Cited sources/experts within the article
Lateral reading indicates no red flags
