Project Assignment: Annotated Bibliography

Produce an evaluative annotated bibliography that collects, summarizes, and explains relevant secondary sources available on your narrowed topic (there will also be an in-class research presentation, five minutes in length). Many of the sources collected will be scholarly. The annotated bibliography will 1) summarize the source; 2) explain its rhetorical context (the journal and its audience, the purpose of the article, the conversation/debate it references, its genre conventions, its organization, the evidence it marshals in support of its argument, and/or its disciplinary assumptions and values); and 3) articulate the ways the source helps you understand your research topic in all of its complexity.

Requirements:

The bibliography should contain 4 or more sources, each with a correct citation, a paragraph telling the reader the main argument and main points of the article, a description of the rhetorical context (the journal and its audience, the purpose of the article, the conversation/debate it references, its genre conventions, its organization, the evidence it marshals in support of its argument, and/or its disciplinary assumptions and values), and a couple of sentences talking about why you choose this article, about what it helps you understand about your research topic. See example on reverse.

Process:

1. Develop a narrowed research topic and focused research question
2. Find articles using library databases pertinent to your topic (Proquest and Academic Search Complete)
3. Adapt research topic based on early findings
4. Read, evaluate, summarize, interpret, and describe sources
5. Draft citations for peer review
6. Present research to class
7. Revise incorporating feedback from peers
8. Submit final draft of your annotated bibliography.