Annotated Bibliographies

Why? Constructing your annotated bibilography should hopefully assist you in constructing the final argument of your reasearh paper. How do the sources fit together? Where are there contradictions? What's missing? For the first round, the "what's missing" question will probably be uppermost. Having looked at a variety of sources by now, what else will you need to complete your research? The second round should be for fine tuning your argument.

What? Each entry will contain three elements:

  • The basic bibliographic information for the source. (Consult your handbooks often. Use MLA documentation style for the Annotated Bibliography.)
  • A substantial paragraph outlining the content of each source. Another paragraph (or two, or more) that addresses how this source stands in relation to other sources you've consulted. Same topic/different approachs and conclusions? Radical disagreements? Remember to think of your sources as a group of people gathered together in conversation. Where is the agreement, where is the dissent? And finally, how does the source work (or not work) with your particular argument. In the case of the sources that don't work - consider why? Might this ultimately change your argument?
  • Two to three keywords or phrases that summarize the content of the source. Here you may use the search terms you used to find the source in the first place. This is where your research log comes in handy. Be as specific as possible with these keywords. Again, the more specific you are the more useful to the construction of your argument this will prove.

  • How? When assessing and summarizing the arguments of others remember to

  • Summarize objectively
  • Present enough of the author's argument to allow your readers to come to their own conclusions
  • Indicate your own response to the material you are summarizing. What next?After you have considered your sources and come up with keywords for each, do you see any patterns forming? Is all your research leading you in one direction? Are there several threads? Which will you focus on?

    What about?? Some potential problems:

  • Movies/Television shows. If you are using a film as a source, treat it as you would any print source. Summarize thematic issues rather than retelling plot.
  • Images. Include these in your bibliography as well. What's telling or striking about the image? What point are you trying to make with it?
  • Music. Same as above - focus on the elements of the song that make it useful to you. These elements might not always be verbal.
  • Websites. Consider layout, presentation, the visual as well as the verbal content. Also consider all the points we discussed during library sessions. Who is maintaining the site? For what purposes?
  • Popular magazines/tabliods. Treat these as cultural artifacts rather than sources of credible information. Your analaysis (and therefore your summaries) should focus on the manner in which they are conveying subtextual messages - via layout and visuals - rather than their "news" value.

    How to submit You will submit your Annotated Bibliography on the Wiki. From the Annotated Bibliographies page, create your own subpage and begin posting. (See Schedule for dates and numbers of posts.) Continue adding sources as you find and use them, making adjustments as necessary to other entries. You should have worked with between ten and fifteen sources by the time you're done.