There is much homelessness in the USA
Topic Proposal &
Annotated Bibliography
Focus: Analyzing a problem and describing the background and context of the problem; gathering and evaluating useful research resources for a problem/solution essay (Major Assignment 4); textual organization; drafting a strong introduction section
The third major assignment is made up of two common academic genres: the proposal and the annotated bibliography. Both of these genres are used to prepare to write a bigger project—in this case, the Problem/Solution Essay (Assignment #5). In other words, your proposal and annotated bibliography are meant to prepare you for the final assignment in the class. These assignments will help you test out your ideas and gather information for the final assignment.
Part 2: Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography is a research tool that helps writers gather information and use it for their papers. You will compile an annotated bibliography of 6-10 reliable sources related to the problem and/or the solution you have chosen to write about. It includes full citations, and underneath each citation is a summary and description of how the source is useful to you (the writer) for your research. It is NOT written as an essay but instead as a list of entries.
The annotated bibliography should contain:
• Balanced points of view (include at least 2 different solutions and positions) – do not choose a side yet. Equally distribute the number of sources to the different solutions/positions you have found.
• Authentic sources (no personal blogs/websites, explicitly and inappropriately biased websites, etc.)
• Paraphrase – summarize and write in your own words. Do not simply copy and paste sentences, unless you find very interesting quotes that you want to use in your essay (but quotes should be used sparingly)
In your Annotated Bibliography, each entry will have 3 parts:
Citation: For each source that you find, write out a correct citation, including the hanging indent.
Summary: Summarize the main ideas of the source. The summary should be in your own words. If necessary, you can quote phrases (with clearly signaled quotation marks), but the purpose is to show that you understand the source and can explain its main points without needing to look back at the source.
Evaluation: Describe how this source will help you with Assignment #5. This paragraph can include a lot of information, such as: how this source is connected to your argument, specific information you plan to use in your final essay, how trustworthy the information is, if the source has a bias, how it is similar or different from your other sources, what information it is missing, how each source connects with the other sources on the bibliography i.e. how the source contradicts, supports, or relates to the other sources on the list.
Annotated Bibliography Requirements
• 6-12 entries
• A citation, summary paragraph, and evaluation paragraph for each entry
• 150-400 words for each entry
An example of annotated bibliography (summary + your evaluation):
Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New York, NY: Henry
Holt and Company.
In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist’s experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.
An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.
Rubric for Annotated Bibliography Final Draft
Criteria Failure to meet expectations Additional work required to meet expectations Expectations met Expectations exceeded
Citation Little information about the source for each entry is provided, and APA style is not used to format citations. Information about the source for each entry is provided using APA format, but citations lack some basic important information. Each entry has a proper APA citation with full information, but there are some instances of careless mistakes. Each entry has a full and proper citation following APA guidelines.
Summary Only a few minor ideas are listed from the source with no clear organization. Summary seems to include only a few main ideas, but mostly details are listed. Most of the main ideas seem to be accommodated in the summary in a fairly good organization. All main ideas seem to be accommodated in the summary in a well-organized way.
Evaluation The writer provides almost no evaluation of the sources. The writer provides unclear/ vague evaluations of the sources. It is hard to understand how the sources will be used in major assignment 4. The writer provides mostly clear and critical evaluations of the sources. At times it may lack some information as to it will be used in major assignment
4. The writer provides very clear and critical evaluations of the sources in each entry.
Organization Entries does not have the expected 3 parts: citation, summary, and evaluation. Some of the entries has the expected 3 parts: citation, summary, and evaluation. Some may lack some parts. Most of the entries has the expected 3 parts: citation, summary, and evaluation. Each entry has the expected 3 parts: citation, summary, and evaluation.
Language Many incomplete or difficult to understand sentences that make the writer’s ideas unclear. Some sentences are confusing and difficult to understand. Obvious errors such as typos. Noticeable problems with sentence construction or word choice, but meaning is clear. Essay reads smoothly and is not difficult for readers.
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