Annotated Bibliography

Your assignment is to prepare an annotated bibliography using APA documentation style. The assignment has two parts: the list of sources and the annotation for each source.

The list of sources must contain:

1. The subject of your research, which you must state at the top of the page.

2. Seven sources of information about your subject, including:

a. At least one book

b. At least two articles from one or more databases in the Library

c. At least one scholarly article.

3. All sources correctly documented in APA style.

4. The entire references list correctly formatted in APA style.

Special note: Wikipedia is not an acceptable source for scholarly work. Do not use Wikipedia as a source for this or any academic assignment.

The annotation for each source must contain:

1. A short summary (1-3 sentences) of the information found in the source.

2. An evaluation of the source's credibility, reliability, currency, possible bias, and usefulness with respect to your topic. Refer to pages 17-23 in A Pocket Style Manual for specific tips on evaluating sources. This assignment cannot be revised. You are expected to use A Pocket Style Manual to ensure your documentation is correct

Below is an example. The words in italics (summary and evaluation) do not need to be in your work; they are here just for the clarity of the example.

Subject: Psychic Phenomena

Cleer, I. (1994). A psychic's life. New York, NY: FlyByNight Press. This is a humorous look at the life of a modern-day psychic who tells the future by reading Tarot cards. (summary) Since it is written by the psychic herself, it is most likely accurate, but may be biased in favor of justifying her craft. (evaluation) Harrumph, H. H. (2000). Seeing through psychic phenomena. Paranormal Journal, 23, 312-333.

This is a scholarly examination of claims made by psychics, such as clairvoyance and ability to see the future. It is drawn from case histories over 25 years. (summary) Much of the language is difficult to read, so its usefulness may be limited. (evaluation)

Thesaurus:

Once you come up with a thesis with tension, then, of course, you have to figure out how to support it. Your support takes two forms: general statements or points, and details or particulars. You need both. In addition, different audiences and purposes determine how much detail you need to provide, but details (or particulars) are always needed. That's because details are much more convincing than general statements.

In fact, most people consider a general statement that is not backed up with some detailed information as just an opinion. For example, if someone declared to you that movies are much more exciting now than they were ten years ago, you might be inclined to believe or disbelieve the speaker, depending on your own feelings about movies. However, if that person followed up the general statement with three or four specific examples, comparing one of the current or recent movies with a similar one from a decade ago, you would most likely find the argument more convincing, or at least you would understand why the person made such a declaration of judgment, even if you still didn't agree. That's the power of details.

Take this quiz to test your understanding and then post a note explaining what you learned about how word choice affects tone.Thesaurus Quiz-Circle the most appropriate choice for the missing word.

1. The captain exhorted his men to have _____________ as they faced the enemy.

dash, derrring-do, gallantry, intrepidity, courage, enterprise, pluckiness, prowess

2. She declared, as the burglar pulled out his gun, "I have no _____________!"

angst, cold sweat, dismay, phobia, chickenheartedness, fear

3. The president _____________ to the podium.

hoofed it, ambled, locomoted, meandered, paced, walked, pranced, sauntered, slogged

4. The elegantly dressed woman began to _____________ a tiny sandwich.

chew, eat, chow down, devour, feast upon, masticate, polish off, nibble

5. Impulsively, she swept everything off the _____________ desk.

cluttered, confused, bedraggled, tumultuous, unkempt, irregular

6. Deliberate killing is a _____________ thing.

awful, catty, confounded, hateful, pestiferous, undesirable

7. He put the _____________ in the window.

blade, flabellum, propeller, thermantidote, fan, windmill

8. The convict whispered his last _____________; he wanted forgiveness.

hankering, inclination, thirst, whim, ambition, wish

9. Have a _____________ day!

unpresumptuous, well-mannered, decorous, approved, commendable, ducky, nice