Annotated Bibliography

 Annotation is the process by which you emphasize important information in a document  You create annotated bibliography to help organize thoughts and gain familiarity with research material Ensures that the sources you are using are relevant and will benefit you during the research process

What Does An Annotated Bibliography Do?  A good annotated bibliography encourages you to think critically about the content of the works you are using, and their relation to your own research and ideas.  Proves you have read and understand your sources.  Establishes your work as a valid source and you as a competent researcher.  Provides a way for others to decide whether a source will be helpful to their research if they read it.

How to Make Your Annotated Bibliography 1. Prepare a Works Cited entry following an established format (MLA) 2. Compose a short summary of the source 3. Discuss how helpful this source will be to your research and why.  Once you have finished all of your entries, be sure to arrange them on the page in alphabetical order.

Questions to Ask When Evaluating Your Source And Preparing Your Summary  What is the main idea? Is it relevant to your research?  What is the author’s purpose?  Who is the intended audience?  Is it reliable? How did you determine it was credible?  Is the source timely?  Does the source agree/disagree with your purpose?  What type of evidence does the author offer as support for his subject matter?  How will you use the source in your work?

How To Write Your Summary  Read your source carefully Determine the author’s purpose and the writing structure because this will help you summarize the source  Read, Label, Underline Carefully, examine your source and find the areas where the information will be most beneficial to your research. Having those key points labeled will help during the writing process (THE RESEARCH NOTECARDS)!!!!

How to Write Your Summary  Write a thesis for each source The thesis expresses the central idea of the passage. You can find the thesis either by looking through your notations in the work and determining the overall idea. You can use part of the author’s thesis in your summary but be sure to credit the author by putting his or her words in quotations.

How to Write Your Summary  Write the first draft of your summary Begin by using the thesis and adding any subsequent details that will make your summary stronger. Avoid being repetitive.  Revise your summary Reread your work for correct grammar, punctuation, and fluency

Sample Annotated Bibliography Freidman, Pamela “Economic Development” Rural Assistance Center 17 December 2007.Web.10 March This article gives a brief description of the economic challenges faced by rural communities. Though it mentions the obstacles that Rural America must overcome, the writer explains the potential that these communities have. Rural communities have a higher percentage of self-employment. It supports the fact that even thought there are many challenges in rural communities, the inhabitants are hard working, and self-sufficient. Compared to other resources I felt that this website was less informative in regards to statistics, but the spirit of the website and the article was deeply positive about rural communities. The website was dedicated to helping rural communities developing small businesses and education. Rural Assistance center is a not for profit organization.

Sample Annotated Bibliography “What is meant by Rural Schools” Institute of Education Sciences US Department of Education August 2008.Web.10 March This website is dedicated to people that are interested in seeing a change in education for rural America. IES partners with the US department of education and the National Center for Education Statistics to provide up to date information on statistics for rural America. The website was a wealth of information regarding the growth that has happened in American Education. Compared to the other sites that I visited this one seemed the most credible, but listed dozens of other sites as “resources” that I was not so sure about their credibility.

Sample Annotated Bibliography Bailey, Jon “Case for small schools” Center for Rural Affairs Monthly Newsletter January 2000.Web.10 March This article was invaluable to me. It was full of information and statistics regarding small schools which are mainly found in rural areas. The article itself was published in January of 2000, but the website it was retrieved from was very up to date. Compared to other articles I found it to be my favorite as far as facts and information.