ENG 1027: The Annotated Bibliography
This assignment is crucial; it allows you to explore various positions on your topic and prepare some research before you dive into your Position Paper later in the term. After selecting your controversial topic and developing a research question, you should begin the search for sources that present varying viewpoints and positions of the topic. Remember to select articles and references carefully and to be suspicious when deciding which articles to use (is the source credible?). Remember to include those articles that cover many different perspectives on the topic (answer yes, no, and maybe in response to your research question).When gathering sources, remember to save a copy of each source electronically on your computer's desktop, in email, on One Drive, on a flashdrive, etc. Save each source in three different locations and make note of each source's MLA citation as you go (copy and paste into a Word doc).
To begin the process of research, we will discuss library databases and the research process in class. During our discussion be sure to pay very close attention, ask lots of questions, and take notes.
NOTE: YOU CANNOT USE SOURCES FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB, ONLY A LIBRARY OR LIBRARY DATABASES.
To begin the annotated bibliography assignment you will be asked to locate SIX journal, articles or book chapters on your own using the library's electronic databases.
To access the library's electronic databases see the link below:
You may also use physical books from any library (on campus or local public library).
Once you have decided on your six sources, you will have to read and analyze them and take extensive notes.
IN ORDER TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER, YOU MUST CAREFULLY READ ALL RESEARCH MATERIALS.
Always look at the table of contents, the chapter headings, and the index or bibliography in the back. You can learn a lot about a book from doing these things before you read it at length, and you can locate other sources related to your topic simply by looking at a journal article's works cited page.
Next, you should carefully read each article, underlining any ideas that you feel are important and/or those that elicit a strong personal response. As you are reading, record your own personal responses in the margins of the article. Then, you should write the article's annotation. These notes will be very important when it's time to begin a draft of your paper as they will help you quickly locate the quotes needed for your draft.
There are 4 steps to completing the formal written annotation of each source:
Step 1: PROVIDE THE MLA CITATION: To complete each annotation, first write the MLA citation for the article. Most databases will provide the MLA citation for you; you'll just need to copy and paste this into your MS Word document.
Step 2: SUMMARIZE THE MAIN IDEAS OF THE SOURCE IN 8-10 SENTENCES MINIMUM. To complete this step, simply go back through the source and identify what you saw as the important ideas (those you underlined, etc.).
Step 3: EXPLAIN THE SOURCE'S ETHOS/CREDIBILITY: Why should this be considered a credible source? What are the source's professional credentials and background? What specifically makes them professionally qualified to speak on this subject and why should they be trusted? NOTE: DO NOT USE SOURCES THAT DO NOT PRESENT A STRONG APPEAL TO ETHOS.
Step 4: EXPLAIN USE: How do you plan to use the information presented this source in a paper? This should be a one sentence explanation that begins, "I will use this source to..."
Your annotations should be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt., and Times New Roman font, using MLA style.
List the sources alphabetically by author’s last name, using MLA style, and then write an eight-to-ten sentence blurb summarizing each of your seven sources. Make sure to identify the author’s thesis in your summary and other important points made in the article. You should also include an evaluation of the source's ethos/credibility. Finally, indicate in a sentence how you might use the source in your paper.
Here is an example:
Renoir, Pierre-August. Authors By themselves. Ed. Rachel Barnes. 1st ed. USA: Alfred A.
Knopf, 1990. In this book, Rachel Barnes writes an introduction talking about Renoir and includessmall unknown details about his life. She also quotes Renoir when he says, “I think I’m at last
beginning to understand something about it” in reference to his life’s passion. She claims that
Renoir is one of the best known and loved of all painters. The author's thesis is that Renoir's
work is reproduced ubiquitously and his effortless charm, his sunbathed vision of human life,
ever joyful and optimistic, have appealed over time to connoisseurs and the more casual
observer alike. She also talks about how Renoir was inspired by Fragonard and Boucher who
are Rococco painters. There is also mention of Renoir’s earlier jobs and how he developed his
technique for painting. Rachel Barnes mentions the friendships Renoir had with Alfred Sisley,
Jean Frederic Bazille and Claude Monet as well as the deepening friendship he had with
Monet. Renoir himself about his works and his reactions to public opinion of his paintings.
Barnes is a credible source that has written several books about the topic, and she is a
respected professor at an Ivy League university. This source is credible because Barnes is a
distinguished professor of Art History who has taught at multiple Ivy League universities, and
she has edited six books about the work of various artists. This source could prove useful in
my paper through Renoir’s personal opinion on his work, and being able to contrast it to those
of art analyst and critics in a time after Renoir’s own.
For an additional example, click the link below:
Reminders:
•Remember that the purpose of an annotation is to give a reader a condensed and objective account of the main ides and features of a text. Indicate the main ideas of the text. Accurately representing the main ideas (while omitting the less important details) should be your major goal.
Remember that the purpose of an annotation is to give a reader a condensed and objective account of the main ides and features of a text. Indicate the main ideas of the text. Accurately representing the main ideas (while omitting the less important details) should be your major goal.•Use direct quotation of key words, phrases, or sentences. (“According to Hattemer” or “as Hattemer explains”) to remind the reader that you are summarizing the author and the text, not giving your own ideas. NOTE: Instead of repeating “Hattemer says,” choose verbs that more accurately represent the purpose or tone of the original passage: “Hattemer argues,” "Hattemer explains,” "Hattemer warns,” “Hattemer asks,” “Hattemer advises” (These are referred to as author tags).
Use direct quotation of key words, phrases, or sentences. (“According to Hattemer” or “as Hattemer explains”) to remind the reader that you are summarizing the author and the text, not giving your own ideas. NOTE: Instead of repeating “Hattemer says,” choose verbs that more accurately represent the purpose or tone of the original passage: “Hattemer argues,” "Hattemer explains,” "Hattemer warns,” “Hattemer asks,” “Hattemer advises” (These are referred to as author tags).•Avoid summarizing specific examples or data unless they help illustrate the thesis or main idea of the text.
Avoid summarizing specific examples or data unless they help illustrate the thesis or main idea of the text.•Report the main ideas as objectively as possible. Represent the author and text as accurately and faithfully as possible. Do not include your own personal reactions to the author's information.
Report the main ideas as objectively as possible. Represent the author and text as accurately and faithfully as possible. Do not include your own personal reactions to the author's information.- Include a short evaluation of the source's ethos/credibility.
• Lastly, in one sentence explain how you might use the source in your research paper.
