Annotated Bibliography CIS English Annotated Bibliography

The Research Process The research process is typically taught backwards. Here’s what I mean… Students typically choose a topic, pick a side of the argument (or they already know their argument…), and then go find a few sources that back up what they already “know” or think. In the academic world, the research process is much different than this. It’s more like a scientific experiment. Students know something about a topic that they’re interested in, so they study it in depth and develop a position as a result of their study.

Annotated Bibliography In the academic world, NOBODY has used the note-card system since 1965ish. Instead, the academic world has shifted to the annotated bibliography as a way of organizing research. Professional academics often keep annotated bibliographies that record their study of a topic/issue over the course of many, MANY years. You’ll develop an annotated bibliography that records your research on a topic over the course of a couple weeks.

Annotated Bibliography An annotated bibliography begins with the MLA Works Cited entry for a source. After the works cited entry, you write a short summary—a paragraph or two—of the source. This is known as an “abstract” After the abstract, you write a 1-2 paragraph evaluation of the source. There is not a strict list of issues to address in the evaluation, but you might write about the following…

Evaluation/Reflection When you evaluate a source, you might address some of these ideas… Address the author’s credibility—especially if they’re an expert in the field. Address general features of the piece. For example, does it rely primarily on pathos? Etc… Address specific features of the piece that you find important and/or helpful to your thinking on the issue. Anticipate ways that this piece might be helpful in supporting an argument. Reflect on your reaction to the piece…

Your Annotated Bibliography You will start your project with a 12-14 source annotated bibliography. At this point of the process, you’ve just declared a topic and I know that several of you have a few sources. Now you will spend the next week collecting about a dozen sources and compiling your annotated bibliography. Your (first) annotated bibliography is due in class on Monday, Oct. 26, which means that you have a little more than two weeks to work on this.

Research Suggestions… READ research materials actively with a pen or pencil in hand, taking notes and annotating as you go to identify what seem to be big, important details. Or to ask questions….or to make connections… Use LOTS of different search terms. Don’t fall in love with one phrase and use ONLY THAT for your research. You’ve got to be creative with search terms and you need to keep exploring! As you learn more and more about your topic through reading, think about important key phrases and definitions of concepts…then use those as search terms for further research. Sometimes, your research will do more research for you! If the writer of an article refers to another article or another writer or researcher, NOTE THAT…and then use it for further research…

More Suggestions… If an article contains a works cited…look it over carefully! Sometimes, there are gold-mines “hidden” in those works cited lists. Visit with a reference librarian at least once! This might require you to go to the SMSU library in the afternoon or evening sometime in the next week, but it will be worth the visit. They’re often very good at helping you find search terms and strategies that will unlock more doors for you. Give yourself as many smaller “sessions” as possible. If you’re disciplined in the next two weeks and you spend a little time on this project every day instead of putting it off until you’ve got to spend two full days in a row in a panic to get it done, you’ll find that it will be both easy and interesting.

Last Suggestion… Keep an open mind. You can’t learn without and open and curious mind…and your goal right now is to learn as much as possible about this topic/issue. You never know what you’re going to learn or how you’re going to learn it. The goal is to explore!