Module 4 assignment 2: annotated bibliography

Module 4 Assignment 2: Annotated Bibliography

Overview

When you have a complex research project, it can be difficult to keep track of your sources. The more sources you consult, the more complicated keeping track of their main ideas, relevance, and credibility can be. Organizing your research makes the project easier and less stressful. One of the best ways to keep track of your sources is to create an annotated bibliography as you consult them. For each source create an MLA Works Cited entry (so you don’t have to worry about this when you draft the essay), a short summary of the source’s main and most relevant arguments, and a short analysis of the source’s credibility (the annotations). Then, as you begin to draft, you can consult your annotated bibliography to help you keep track of which sources you wanted to use for each section of your argument. Your annotated bibliography will tell the story of your research and the perspectives you have consulted.

In this assignment you will create an annotated bibliography of the sources you plan to use for your Module 5 Assignment: Researched Argument Essay.  Do not include an additional Works Cited page.

You should spend approximately 6 hours on this assignment.

Instructions

1. Research: Continue to find sources to help you research your working thesis. You may use some or all of the sources from your exploratory essay and research proposal, or you may decide that some of those sources are no longer relevant to your refined thesis. For your annotated bibliography, include only sources you think you might actually use for your Module 5 Assignment: Researched Argument Essay. You will need at least eight relevant, quality sources for this assignment.
2. Pre-Write: Read each source carefully, noting its main arguments and relevant support. Evaluate each source for credibility, argument, support, and relevance.
3. Write: Construct your annotated bibliography, and use no direct quotations. Each source should be professional and “published,” and should have its own annotated entry. For each source’s entry, you should write:
   • An MLA Style Works Cited citation
   • 1 sentence of summary
   • 1 sentence of evaluation
   • 1 sentence of reflection on the usefulness and relevance of the source to your research project/working thesis.

CREDIBILITY: Always select current sources, published in the last 5 years.

1. Tips for Success:
   • Your annotated bibliography should have 8-10 sources (no more, no less). Of those eight sources, at least four of them should be academic journal articles. The other sources should be a mix of magazine, news, internet, podcast, TED Talk, documentary, or other less traditional source types. No more than two sources should be general websites.
   • Carefully follow the formatting guidelines in the resources found on the Exploration page. Annotated bibliographies should be alphabetized and should use a hanging indent.
2. Please be sure to use correct MLA Style for your essay and to create an MLA Works Cited page. Need help with MLA? Please refer to the CCCOnline MLA Citation Toolkit, or consult the Purdue OWL for more information on general MLA format or how to create a correctly formatted MLA Works Cited page.
3. Once your essay is written, revised, and proofread, you may submit it to the Module 4 Assignment folder 2: Annotated Bibliography