**Please read this assignment in its entirety to know exactly what is required.
You will upload the following three files as Word or PDF documents. Missing document means missing points:
a) A completed self-review sheet: 1102_AB_Review.docx
b) Your final Annotated Bibliography with eight sources (see specific instructions below)
c) A 150-word minimum reflection of your experience composing this assignment. Include the following:
What challenges did you face?
What were your most and least favorite parts?
What kind of feedback did you get from your peers during thsi unit about your research questions and/or sources?
What was the most significant takeaway from completing this assignment?
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Objective: To gather and evaluate at least eight key articles on your chosen single, narrowed, specific research topic (yes, time to pick the one you really want to pursue!). You already have six from your “Synthesis Matrix.”
Note: You can find more by using the UCF database (or Google Scholar,
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Links to an external site.
or any other academic scholarly collection if you cannot find something on the database). Again, all eight should be credible sources, as we have learned so far in Unit 3.
Audience: Primary: Readers of Stylus and those interested in your topic of choice; Secondary: Your peers and your professor.
Format: Introduction paragraph to the AB and eight complete AB annotated entries; use MLA
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Overview: Writing an Annotated Bibliography Using MLA Style
What is an annotated bibliography? An annotated bibliography is simply a list of summarized and evaluated sources (a bibliography) for your final project. It should be composed of two main parts:
A focusing introduction to the bibliography and
A short descriptive and evaluative summary (annotation) of each source on the list.
1. Introduction
The short (roughly half-page) introduction to the annotated bib explains the purpose and focus of the bibliography— (a) overview of the significance of the issue you’re investigating, and (b) what your research question is (or if multiple detailed ones, “are”).
2. Annotations
The 100-200 word annotation following each of the eight sources summarizes & evaluates the source and details its relation to the bibliography’s topic, and thus its usefulness to your research. Here’s an example of one for you to use right here: SAMPLE
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How should you write each annotation entry? Use 100-200 words to provide as much information about each source as is relevant for your research project. Include the following five elements for each of the eight sources:
First, explain the type of source you are annotating, the topic of the piece, and the qualifications of the author. For example, “In this scholarly peer-reviewed journal article, John Jones, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, evaluates parental approaches to implementing reading incentives.”
Summarize the research method used. State if you would use the same kind of method for your own research and why or why not.
Summarize the main claim and conclusion. You can include as much or as little detail about the findings/claims as will be relevant and helpful to you for your own paper.
Evaluate the claim/s. For example, if the author’s interpretation of data is flawed, for instance there is no logos (facts, stats), or the author includes a limited sample, you can comment on that in your annotation. For example, you might state, “Jones argues that the majority of parents do not think about implementing reading incentives at home. He only surveyed a small sample of parents in a small town to provide evidence to back this claim, and this one-sided analysis is a logical fallacy and thus holds little reliability.”
State clearly how this source is relevant to the “conversation” surrounding your own research question.
Please refer to the sample annotation again: SAMPLE ANNOTATION
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How is an annotated bib arranged and formatted? Arrange the AB alphabetically, beginning each entry (source) with an MLA citation (just like it would appear on a Works Cited page) and following that with its annotation. MLA format dictates that the entire bibliography should be double spaced. Do not put an extra space between entries. Use a hanging indent
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after first line of citation.
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How many sources are required? Eight (at least–of course you can include more) for this assignment. Remember that your research project is an attempt to join a conversation. The AB is a snapshot of that conversation. Too few sources, and you probably haven’t explored the conversation. Too many, and you will never get to what you have to say!
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What is the purpose? The primary purpose of the AB is to get you reading the ongoing conversation about the research area that interests you. As you do that, you need a way to stay organized, so the secondary purpose of the annotated bib is to serve as a research aid. With large, multiple-source projects, you’ll always fight some level of confusion about “who said that?” or “where did I read that?”
The ultimate goal of reading about your topic is to determine where there is a “niche” that you can fill with your own research. You’ll know when you have read enough when you have a clear idea of what has been done in relation to your question, and where you can enter the conversation.
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Procedure Breakdown:
1) After you’ve narrowed your topic into one specific research question (it can still morph a little at this point!), find eight relevant sources (you can use the six you found for the “Synthesis Matrix).
2) Begin taking notes on and composing entries for each of the sources, making sure you include information for the five required annotation elements stated above. Avoid plagiarizing and the temptation to copy the abstract at all costs!
3) Be sure each entry is at least 100 words and does not exceed about 250 words (a little over is not a problem).
4) Check again to make sure each of the entries is within the word count range above and includes the five elements in the annotation. Feel free to view the student example of an entire AB assignment found here: Student_Sample_AB.pdf
5) Include the short (roughly half-page) introduction to the annotated bib explains the purpose and focus of the bibliography— (a) overview of the significance of the issue you’re investigating, and (b) what your research question is (or if multiple detailed ones, “are”).
6) Format the AB correctly with hanging indents and alphabetization.
7) Proofread for errors.
8) Submit the three required documents: a) your final draft, b) the completed self review, and c) a reflection paragraph