ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
In order to transition effectively from your proposal to your TEDTalk and RadioLab Podcast, your small group will need to conduct academic research. To document this process, you’ll need to create an annotated bibliography.
An annotated bibliography consists of a list of MLA-style citations for books, articles, websites, etc. Each citation is followed by a paragraph-long description and evaluation of the source.
Before you begin writing your annotated bibliography, you will need to narrow down your research topic. A good annotated bibliography includes only those sources that directly relate to your narrowed, focused research question. To this extent, you want to ask yourself: What specific questions do I have about my topic that I would like to answer through research? Any one of those questions would likely be a suitable research topic.
Once you have decided on a focused research question, you may begin collecting sources for your annotated bibliography. The bibliography itself will consist of 12 secondary sources (16 for groups of four students), which are listed below by type (along with the rules to follow). I’ve listed acceptable sources below:
Books: this includes anthologies, but not books printed solely on the Internet (i.e. if the book is online, it must have appeared in print first).
Essays/Articles: from journals, magazines or newspapers: You should find these in databases, and if there is a link to full text, that’s okay. Otherwise, use Inter-Library Loan or get them out at our library.
As mentioned previously, each source in an annotated bibliography requires the following material:
First, describe or summarize the main points made in the book, article, on the webpage, etc. You should discuss the central theme of the source, the thesis, major sub-points, salient examples, and the audience it is trying to reach (if possible), etc. To this end, I’d like to see you articulate the book or essay’s thesis, as well as outlining the sources main points. Please include relevant quotes when possible.
Second, you will need to evaluate the source. Your evaluation should include why the source and the author are credible, how the source is relevant to your narrowed research question, and how you evaluate the source. I’m looking for specific citations/ideas from your sources and how those citation/ideas connect directly to your upcoming projects. Do not create vague or overly generalized relationships that do not demonstrate an understanding of the text and why you’ve chosen it.
This aspect of your assignment should be 11-14 pages in length (15-17 pages for groups of four), double-spaced and typed in 12-point, Times New Roman font. Do not include sources that you included in your Research Proposal.
Each of the sources must be formatted to MLA specifications.
For more information on, please consult OWL’s guidelines for the Annotated Bibliography.
