The Annotated Bib

You will see the annotated bib in college and not just for an English class.  What do you do if you have a question about this assignment? What do you not do?

From National History Day contest: An annotated bibliography is required for all categories. It should contain all sources that provided usable information or new perspectives in preparing your entry. You will look at many more sources than you actually use. You should list only those sources that contributed to the development of your entry. Sources of visual materials and oral interviews must be included. The annotations for each source must explain how the source was used and how it helped you understand your topic.

From a KSU Eng 1102 course: Grading and Evaluation: Your final grade in this course will be derived from the points you accumulate during the semester. Therefore, if you keep a record of all your graded papers and assignments, you will know by the last day of class what your final grade will be. “Mini” Research Paper/Assignments 50 points Topic 10 points Summary of Reference Article 50 points Keywords 5 points Group Presentation 25 points Annotated Bibliography 50 points Notes 20 points Thesis and Outline 30 points Rough Draft 20 points Research Paper 100 points Peer Edit 20 points Final Exam: Presentation 20 points Total 400 points A = 400-360 points B = 359-319 points C = 318-278 points D = 277-237 points F = 236 and below

From a GSU English 1200 course: CRITICAL ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT This assignment asks you to synthesize and reflect critically on at least 6-8 relevant sources that you are planning on using for your proposal paper (Note: more than 8 sources will help you write a more complete paper, if all the sources are relevant). Writing the bibliography before your proposal paper will help you determine what you want to propose as a solution to the problem and how each source will contribute to your proposal argument.

SOURCES Your bibliography should contain 6-8 entries, and should meet the following criteria: At least 2 of your sources must be web sites or web pages Only two of the sources may be from popular (rather than scholarly or trade) publications (we will talk about these differences in class). You must include a variety of types of sources (journal articles, newspaper articles, books, etc.). You must include sources that provide a variety of perspectives on the problem you have selected. Do not include encyclopedia or dictionary entries (You may consult these to learn background materials about your topic, but they will not count as one of your 6-8 sources)

FORMAT and ANNOTATIONS For each of your sources, you should include an entry with relevant publication information in MLA format. We will talk about this in class and you will read about it from the textbook. Your annotations for each of your 6-8 sources should do the following: -- summarize the source (chapter, book, article, or the like). -- identify the piece's argument (or main point) -- rely primarily on your own words and phrasing—use summary and paraphrase. -- discuss the source’s strengths and weaknesses. For instance, does the item offer a good introduction to the issue? Does the item deal with a particular aspect of the issue that is especially relevant to the problem you plan to address in your proposal? Do you find the piece accessible or is it geared to a more specialize audience? -- describe how this piece will contribute to your project. Each annotation should be no more than ½ page, single spaced.

From an Environmental Geology course: Geologists, as well as other professionals, must be able to retrieve information from the library. They must also be able to communicate effectively in writing. The purposes of this assignment are as follows: 1. To introduce students to the library to find various types of reference materials. 2. To introduce students to some of the types of geological literature that are available to the general public and to professionals. 3. To acquaint students with one good way to write a bibliography. 4. To provide a means for students to develop good writing skills. 5. To familiarize students with geological topics and issues. 6. To familiarize students with some geological websites. You will write an annotated bibliography on any oceanographic subject of your choosing, making sure that it is sufficiently restricted that you can summarize it in 500 words.

What is an annotated bibliography? An annotated bibliography is a list of sources of information on a particular topic, for example, fossils of Ohio; the 2004 Asian tsunami; or prediction of Hurricane Katrina. Annotated bibs are especially useful when you would like to research a particular topic and discover that the literature on that topic is vast. If someone has made an annotated bibliography on your subject, you can scan through the entries and pick out the references that seem best for your project. Annotated bibliographies are often found in textbooks, biographies or other scholarly works so that interested readers can select additional references that will provide them with more information on the subject. The sources in an annotated bibliography are listed in standard bibliographic format, in alphabetical order. Following each reference is a paragraph describing the reference.

This paragraph should convey several types of information, including: 1. A brief summary of the general contents of the source. 2. A description of the intended audience for the source–is it for beginners? Advanced readers? Professionals only? etc. 3. A general commentary on the reference. Is it informative? Is it well-written? Is it superficial or in-depth? Is it well documented? Is it out-dated or cutting-edge? 4. A discussion of the nature of the illustrations. Are the photographs clear? Are charts and tables clear and easy to read? Do the captions convey sufficient information to understand the illustration? Are line drawings or other artwork of good quality? Are there enough illustrations or too many? 5. Any other relevant information, such as the availability of the reference, the cost if it is extraordinarily inexpensive or expensive, etc.

In addition, your annotated bibliography should have a 500-word summary of your topic and what you learned from your references about your topic. Be sure to proof-read and spell-check your 500-word overall summary and your summaries of each reference. The 500-word summary must be written in your own words. Do not use direct quotes in the summary. Cite all information in the summary that is not common knowledge.