BACKGROUND

Academic writers combine their compelling research questions with well-chosen sources to make the research writing process interesting for themselves and their readers. Reading and responding to the work of others helps researchers make connections between academic texts and their ideas and prepares them to make their own contributions to an academic conversation (237)

DIRECTIONS

In the first part of this assignment, explain your research question and your preliminary thinking. Keep in mind that you're initially proposing a research project that will take you through the rest of the term. Next, you'll introduce your field of academic research and describe your research to this point in the semester. Then, you'll describe a plan for completing your research. This section should be at least three paragraphs.

In the second part of this assignment, create an annotated bibliography with references to at least five scholarly pieces using the MLA formatting and citation style, each with critical annotations (241). For this part of the assignment, you're required to include at least one peer-reviewed academic journal article. The other four sources must be from "academic" sources (such as newspapers with a vigorous editorial process, books, textbooks, governmental sources, and encyclopedias). This section will also feature a detailed annotation, or a two paragraph summary and evaluation of each source (244).

ORGANIZATION

Part One: Proposal (at least three paragraphs)

Your proposal should include the following elements, regardless of the approach or style you use (242):

A tentative title for your project. The title should not restate the paper's topic (e.g., "Logging in the Northwest" or "Cat Ladies). It should suggest your plan to enter the conversation, signal your position in the debate/discussion, or in some way give readers of a hint of your research purpose.

A description of your research question. How did you get interested in the subject? In what field or academic conversation you working?

A description of your research purpose. How do you plan to enter the acadmic conversation? What do you plan to accomplish with your research ?

An overview of the research you're done so far. What had your research shown you? What questions have you answered?

A plan for completion of the project. What research must you do to complete your project? Can you complete the research in the time that remains in the term?

Part TWO: A Working Annotated Bibliography

Choose five scholarly pieces using the MLA formatting and citation style, each with critical annotations.

One source must be a peer-reviewed academic journal article.

The other four sources need from "academic" sources (such as newspapers with a vigorous editorial process, books, textbooks, and encyclopedias)

This section will also feature a detailed annotation, or a paragraph summary (or a descriptive annotation) and paragraph evaluation (Evaluative annotation) of each source (243).