Bibliography and Outline

BIBLIOGRAPHY

You will provide an annotated bibliography of 25 references that you plan to use for your research paper. This must be in APA format, with a cover page and references that each includes a summary, analysis and reflection. This assignment is due by 12 midnight (EST) on the Sunday of Week 3.

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources and includes APA formatted references to the articles, books and resources (all which should have been found through the Liberty University Online Library) which one has compiled for a research assignment. Following each reference is a brief description and an evaluation of the source. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to benefit the researcher and provide the content, relevance and quality of the sources.

Do NOT simply cut and past the abstract as the annotation, as they are not the same. Abstracts are summaries of a source, whereas annotations also include a short summary. Abstracts include a critical aspect to note the source's author (why should s/he be considered an expert) and they explain the usefulness of the research being performed. Along with being an excellent source for APA formatting guidelines, The Owl at Purdue has helpful information regarding annotated bibliographies and also provides helpful examples.

You can expect to keep copies of the annotated bibliography completed for this class, as some of the research may be applicable for research required for other courses. Having an annotated bibliography ensures that a quick review will help a student determine the applicability of articles previously reviewed to required research.

The APA format for an annotated bibliography is as follows:

Author Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (year). Name of journal article. Name of Journal

is Next,volume(Issue), page numbers.

A brief summary of the article.

Assess the article according to the focus of the research and provide criticisms. Who is the author and how are they qualified? Reflect on the source and how it fits in the topic chosen to research. Is the source helpful? Too broad or too narrow? Explain how this research will fit into your research paper.

OUTLINE

Research Paper: Outline Instructions

The outline is to be detailed; that is, there should be three levels in the outline. The first level is the top: introduction, body, and conclusion. The second level should be the major sections of the paper, and the third level should be the major ideas within each section. The introduction and conclusion should be written out and the final references (no annotation) should be listed on the reference pages.

In your introduction, please make clear what the thesis statement of your paper will be. The thesis statement is that compelling idea or vital piece of information you are trying to communicate in this paper. The thesis should be the focal point of the introduction and the paper itself; it is usually located as either the first or last sentence of the introduction.

The conclusion should summarize the major points of the paper that support the thesis. A good conclusion is difficult without a good thesis.

Please visit this OWL Purdue website that explains what a thesis statement is and provides examples of how to write one: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

Outline Format:

1. Introduction

The introduction should be fully written out. The introduction presents the thesis statement of the paper, which is usually the last sentence of the first paragraph. The thesis is not a summary of what the paper is about. It should tell me what you learned in writing the paper. The thesis is the main point or argument that you want the reader to take away from reading the paper. It should be direct, succinct, and clearly communicate the central idea. The thesis is the focus of the introduction and the entire paper. The thesis should also be seen in the title of the paper.

2. Body

A. Main Idea

i. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
ii. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
iii. More as needed....

B. Main Idea

i. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
ii. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
iii. More as needed....

C. Main Idea

i. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
ii. Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
iii. More as needed....

3. Conclusion

The conclusion should be written out. It should summarize the major points of the paper that support the thesis. It is difficult to write a good conclusion without a good thesis statement.