Annotated Bibliography (55% of assignment grade):
Place your sources in proper order (generally alphabetical by author’s last name)
Each citation should be in proper APA or MLA format
After the citation, copy and paste the article’s abstract or summary if available
Compose a 200-word annotation for each source with the following two parts:
An indication of the source type (book, academic journal, newspaper, personal interview, etc.), and a few sentences that assess or evaluate source credibility. If you research the author or publication to evaluate the source, which you should for a high grade, make sure that you cite that information (provide a parenthetical citation/hyperlink). In your annotation, you must evaluate at least two elements of the RADAR framework for each source and you should thoughtfully consider which elements to use for each source. In other words, you won’t be evaluating the author and date of publication for each source, but will instead consider which elements are the most relevant for each source.
A thorough source summary. It includes the author’s purpose for writing (about what are they trying to persuade, entertain, or inform) and the argument/thesis that they are trying to make, reflects on why it’s an appropriate source for your project and explains how you might use it—what specific points and facts are important for answering your research question and may potentially develop your argument.
Note: Your summary should not repeat the abstract: think of the abstract as the “they say” and your summary as the “I say.”
Use a variety of source types, as appropriate for your topic and potential audiences.
Use some scholarly sources if appropriate for your rhetorical situation, but make sure that you read and understand them. You can’t just read the abstract or skim for a quote.
Your sources should provide a variety of perspectives, explore nuances of the topic, and complicate your ideas (these will lead to your counter-argument).
Old Sources (part of Annotated Bibliography grade):
Selecting 8 top sources will require that you locate, read and consider a lot of sources. The general rule is that you’ll need to collect and carefully consider 3-5 times the number of sources that you then narrow down to your top 8. So give yourself ample research, writing, and thinking time. Keep track of the sources that you have chosen not to use.
Your old sources section should include sources that you’ve dropped or replaced since the conference. For each of your old sources (you’ll need between 16-24 for the final draft) add a brief explanation of why each is no longer a great source. Include these sources after your 8 sources, in a section labeled “Old Sources.”
Research Evaluation (35% of assignment grade):
For the second part of this assignment, you will evaluate your research process and progress, and the sources that you have found. This part should be about 500 words (but can go over 500 words) and will include the following things:
Evaluate your research process and progress: How has searching for and selecting your sources deepened and complicated your thoughts on your topic? What information really changed your research question? Is there anything that you’re missing from your research that you need to include in your researched argument for change assignment?
Evaluate the sources that you have chosen and how you can synthesize them: How do your sources connect to each other (one source can complicate another, or give examples to support another’s argument, or build on another’s research, add a new layer of understanding, show a trend, etc.)? You can use a diagram like a synthesis chart or other visuals to help represent source connections.
(Final Assignment Submission Only): Discuss the ways that your specific magazine/audience shaped your research. What sources or information did you drop and/or add because of your specific rhetorical situation (the audience of the magazine that you chose to write for)? Why? What are the particular needs of your rhetorical situation?
Information for Individual Conferences:
You will submit a rough draft of the annotated bibliography (including the titles of all 8 sources AND at least 4 source annotations) and research evaluation before your individual conference. Bring to your virtual individual conference a list of potential magazines/audiences. Consider why each is appropriate, what you know about them, and their potential advantages/disadvantages. I’ll give you advice on your selection. For your final bibliography submission, you will complete section C, above.
Before choosing a magazine, you’ll need to think about your intended audience for your Researched Argument for Change essay–What kind of person do you think would be most interested in your writing? What are you asking them to change or reconsider? Then you can do some research and find a magazine that publishes similar topics and/or writes for a similar audience. For example, if you’re writing for an audience of teenagers, Teen Vogue is a good option; but if your topic is one that centers around the environment, you may want to think about writing for National Geographic because their readers are more environmentally focused. You can use this page to get some ideas of national magazines that you could write for. Make sure to scroll down to MAGAZINES: https://www.allyoucanread.com/
Learning Objectives:
Understanding and experiencing the interlinked research and writing processes.
Using research to understand an issue and produce a feasible answer to your research question, which includes using research for question development and refinement, discovery, and invention.
Carefully selecting and analyzing rhetorically appropriate sources.
Critically evaluating and using your body of research—not just individual sources.
Developing the thinking and source analysis skills that will lead to synthesis writing.
Formatting and Mechanics (10% of assignment grade):
The final draft should be typed in Times New Roman 12 pt. font and be double-spaced
The minimum word count for each source annotation is 200 words. With 8 sources total, the minimum word count for the annotated bibliography portion of this assignment is 1,600 words.
The minimum word count for the research evaluation is 500 words (though you are welcome to go over the word count)
An A-level annotated bibliography and research evaluation will:
Include correct citations in MLA or APA Citation Style for 8 sources in alphabetical order
Reference and reflect on older sources
Include a variety of source types
Have an insightful and thorough summary, reflection, and evaluation for each source.
Explain your research process, the connections between sources, and how your publication has affected your research and source selection
*NOTE: the things lacking in the attatched file of the bibliography is the “research evaluatin section” and the “old sources”. Please refer to the RADAR framework when editing the bibliography.
RADAR FRAME WORK LINK: https://prezi.com/view/AiY2sxH17KTjPny7GrrZ/