ASSIGNMENT: Using your research question, working thesis, and outline from Touchstone 1.2, create an annotated bibliography that provides a synopsis of your sources and an explanation of how you will use them. 

1. Annotated Bibliography

Make sure to:

Alphabetize the entries, according to APA style.
Include the required bibliographic information in APA format for each entry. Include 3-4 sentences for each entry that provide a short summary of the source and how you plan to use it to support your argument. Include at least seven entries in your annotated bibliography, all of which must be credible, academic sources. Choose your own sources, but use no more than three websites (there is no limit on the number of online journals used). Thoroughly check the formatting requirements for the different source types. Indicate the required sources (book, peer-reviewed journal, newspaper/magazine, and credible website) by including the source type in parentheses after the relevant entry.

2. Reflection

Have you displayed a clear understanding of the research activities?
Have you answered all reflection questions thoughtfully and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses?
Are your answers included on a separate page below the main assignment?

B. Reflection Questions

DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.

1. Accurately recording bibliographic information is essential and saves you time, as you can transfer this information to the References page of your drafted essay. Each source entry should include a brief summary of the source as well as 3-4 sentences describing how you intend to use that source to build or support your argument. Discuss how your annotated bibliography meets these criteria. (2-3 sentences)
2. Which strategies were most helpful for you when searching for credible sources? (2-3 sentences)
3. What difficulties did you face while searching for credible sources? How did you overcome these difficulties? (2-3 sentences)

D. Requirements

The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:

• Double-space the bibliography entries and use one-inch margins.
• Use a readable 12-point font.
• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
• Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
• Submission must include your reflection questions.

(Note: Check the due date, this assignment is not due until Week Six. This assignment is worth 100 points and will take a considerable amount of time. Do get started right away. You are welcome to use your evaluations from Discussions #1 and #2 as part of this assignment.)

Submit your Annotated Bibliography (3-5 entries) in the correct MLA format.

(See the sample Annotated Bibliographies.)

Instructions:

For this assignment you will compile an annotated list of different sources. These may include academic journals, professional journals and magazines, books, organization literature, government reports, video, documentaries, websites, etc.

Include at least one book, one website and one peer-reviewed, scholarly article.

Try to spend a page on each article, providing information in the following areas:

• summary
• brief description of the purpose and intended audience/reader
• implications for your research
• relation to ideas in other sources
• reliability/validity of the article
• article presentation, description and effect (language, tone, style, format, etc.)

Present your information as a document for a researcher following in your footsteps, with your name, the date, and the tentative research question or title written up at the top. Also use headings and subheadings, bullets or numbering as needed.  List them in proper MLA bibliographic form. Alphabetize the bibliography as for “Works Cited.”

The whole annotated bibliography is double-spaced and alphabetized. Dont add extra spaces between entries. You should give your annotated bibliography a real title. Try something like this: Ma Raineys Blues and Feminism: An Annotated Bibliography.

Notes:

Though you are required to turn in only three source entries for this assignment, I highly recommend annotating all the sources you are considering. This is part of the research process and you will be asked to provide this type of bibliography in many situations. (In many disciplines, this is known as a Review of the Literature.)

Since your position and recommendations in the final paper must be supported by the most valid, relevant, and reliable sources in your subject area, you need to have a clear and thorough understanding of the quality and reliability of these sources, how they differ and why and how they might be useful.

This assignment is for you: It is an important part of your research materials. This bibliography will be instrumental in organizing your paper later on. You will be able to quickly review and decide how you will use each source. It can also spark new ideas and connections when you get stuck.