Locate sources which will be useful to your topic of study. You can find sources in the library, on the Internet or from expert interviews.
Include a variety of sources that will give you different perspectives in your work. The more opinions you can find about your topic, the better.
Read excerpts from each source to make sure they are going to be beneficial to your work. If you find that the information in your source is not useful or if it is duplicated in another source, discard that source and look for another.
Cite your sources according to the style which you have been assigned. You can find formatting guidelines online for the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA) and the Chicago Manual of Style. These are among the most widely used writing and citation style guides.
Write an annotation after each cited source. According to the University of California Santa Cruz Library, your annotation should include a brief description of the source and its purpose and scope. The description should be summarized in one or two sentences.
Include the credentials of the author and the reasons his argument is valid. Conversely, make sure you uncover any biases or inadequacies that may be presented in the source as well.
Pinpoint the intended audience of the source. If your readers understand the target audience of the source, it can help them to better understand it.
Compare and contrast the work with other sources you are citing. Doing so will show your audience that you have looked at the topic from different angles
Include your own opinion when writing your annotations. An annotation will reflect the opinion of the author, but should also include your opinion on the subject. This will help your readers know that you have researched your topic thoroughly enough to form an educated opinion.