THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
School of Information
PATHFINDER EVALUATION SHEET
5=excellent; 4=very good; 3=good; 2=weak; 1=poor; 0=no credit
HIGH MIDDLE LOW
TOTAL
5 4
3 2
1 0
PART I: INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
A. Is the topic related to the project? ____ ______ ____
B. Is the topic narrow enough to be
well covered in 15-25 sources?
____ ______ ____
C. Is a statement of the nature of the
topic included? (1-2 paragraphs)
____ ______ ____
D. Is the scope of project clearly
defined? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
____ ______ ____
E. Is the intended audience clearly defined and reasonable given the nature
of the topic? . . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______ ____
F. Are the questions the patron might
want answered identified rather than
the sources that might provide info.?
(statement of information needs)
____ ______ ____
G. Is the type of library for which
the pathfinder is intended clearly
stated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______ ____
Scoring:
Part I:
____ X 5
____ X 4
____ X 3
____ X 2
____ X 1
____ X 0
=
=
=
=
=
=
Subtotal: _____/15
Part
____
____
____
____
____
____
II:
X 5
X 4
X 3
X 2
X 1
X 0
=
=
=
=
=
=
Subtotal: _____/18
Part III:
_____ X 5
_____ X 4
_____ X 3
_____ X 2
_____ X 1
_____ X 0
=
=
=
=
=
=
Subtotal: _____/17
Part I (_______) + Part II (_______) + Part III (_______)= ______
Total: _______/ 3 = ______%
% X 30 points = ________
Any deductions?=
H. Are the criteria used in selecting
sources listed? (Why include some
types of sources and not others.)
I. Is it clear how sources were
____
______
____
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
O.
selected: Is a chronology of steps
taken in locating sources provided? ____ ______ ____
Are the subject headings used in the
search for sources listed? . . . . ____ ______ ____
Does the intro. stay to 1-2 pages?
(double spaced; 250 words per page) ____ ______ ____
Does the student avoid using right
justification? . . . . . . . . . .
____ ______ ____
Writing style: clarity; choice of
words; punctuation; variety; word
usage; grammar; spelling; spell out
contractions; avoid weak connectives
like however . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ______ ____
Are statements supported by documentation, when needed? . . . . . . . . .____ ______ ____
Do citations appear at the bottom of
the introduction? . . . . . . . . . .____ ______ ____
PART II: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Are style manuals cited for both
print and electronic sources? . . . .____
B. Are style manuals indicated and
correctly and completely cited?
____
C. Is an adequate number of sources
included? (15 to 25) . . . . . . .
____
D. Are selections reasonable (see scope,
audience, and type of library)? . . ____
E. Do selections represent an appropriate
variety of types of sources? . . .
____
F. Do the selections focus on major reference
sources rather than just a listing of
monographs and journal articles?
____
G. Has complete bib. info. been given? ____
H. Has good bib. form been used
consistently? . . . . . . . . . . . ____
I. Are all the sources annotated? . . . ____
J. Do annots. clearly describe the
subject and scope of the source?
____
K. Do annots. indicate how the source
is related to the pathfinder topic? ____
L. Do annots. point out why a patron
would find the source useful? . . . ____
M. Do annots. indicate how to access
information in the source (e.g.,
appropriate subject terms to use)?
____
N. Are annotations well written (sentence
clarity, variety, word usage, grammar,
punctuation, spelling)? . . . . . . ____
O. If call numbers are given, are they
correct? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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P. Are sources numbered? . . . . . .
Q. Is numbering consecutive? . . . .
R. Is this section within 4-8 pages?
(Can be single spaced) . . . . . .
____
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______
______
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______
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PART III: PATHFINDER
A. Is there a `scope note' or other definition
of the subject for the patron? (may not
be needed if the title of the pathfinder
is descriptive) . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
B. Is the purpose of the pathfinder
clear? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
C. Have appropriate selections been
made from the bibliography? . . . . ____ ______
D. Are all the sources included in the
bibliography? (NOTE: all sources in
the bibliography need not appear in
the pathfinder.) . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
E. Are sources arranged in a meaningful
way so the user understands the
concepts behind finding material on
the topic? . . . . . . . . . . . .
____ ______
F. Are transitions used that lead the
patron through the pathfinder? . . . ____ ______
G. Is the text library jargon-free?
____ ______
H. Is there sufficient white-space to
make the text easy to read? . . . . ____ ______
I. Originality . . . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
J. If call numbers are given, are they
correct? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
____ ______
K. Does the pathfinder "save the time
of the client"? . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
L. Does the pathfinder serve as a
library instruction device? . . . . ____ ______
M. Is this section within 2 pages?
(Can be single spaced) . . . . . . . ____ ______
N. Is there an appropriate closure to
the pathfinder? . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
O. Is the pathfinder well written
(sentence clarity, variety, word
usage, grammar, punctuation,
spelling)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
P. Does the student=s name also appear
on the pathfinder? . . . . . . . . . ____ ______
Q. Is the pathfinder dated? . . . . . . ____ ______
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OTHER COMMENTS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED IN THE CALCULATION OF
YOUR GRADE:
NOTE: Five points will be deducted OFF THE TOP from
_____
each sentence that is drawn too closely from a source.

IS THE PATHFINDER TOPIC APPROPRIATE?
percent.

Does the student select resources that would be available to
the client? If not, deduct 1 percent point for each source.

WAS THE PATHFINDER SUBMITTED LATE? IF SO, DEDUCT 20% FOR
EACH DAY (24 hours) LATE.
IF NOT, DEDUCT 10-50