Abstract Evaluation

The abstracts you provide for your group's Library/Internet Guide will be evaluated according to the following checklist.

• Does the abstract clearly state the title and author (if applicable) of the work being evaluated?
• If the work is published in paper form:
  • Does the abstract clearly state which library holds this work?
  • Does the abstract clearly state where in the library to find it?
  • Is the call number or other classifying criteria provided?
  • Are sample pages provided?
  • If sample pages are provided, does the text of the abstract refer to them?
• If the work is published on the Internet/WWW:
  • Is the URL provided?
  • Is the owner of the website specified?
  • Is the reliability of the website convincingly assessed?
• For all types of resources:
  • Does the abstract describe the purpose of the overall source?
  • Does the abstract describe the scope of the overall source?
  • After reading the abstract, do you know precisely what kinds of information are contained in the work and how you might use it?
  • Does the abstract state the field for which the author is writing?
  • Does the abstract explain precisely how the information is relevant to someone in the author's field?
  • Does the abstract take the reader through the steps necessary to use the guide?
  • Does the abstract include an evaluation of the source's usefulness (good or bad)?
  • What geographic area is covered by the source?
• Abstract appearance and mechanics
  • Is the format of the abstract clear and efficient?
  • Is the printing clean and legible?
  • Is the grammar correct?
  • Is the spelling correct?
  • Is the writer's style clear and easy to understand?
  • Does the writer use any loaded expressions that should be made more specific/concrete?
  • Is the abstract complete?