Engl

Engl. 102: Annotated Bibliography

Required Format for Annotated Bibliography Entries

Annotations must be typed. Begin each new annotation on a separate sheet of paper. Each annotation consists of four parts: MLA HEADING, ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENT, EVALUATION OF ARGUMENT, REFLECTION ON HOW YOU MIGHT USE THIS SOURCE IN YOUR OWN WORK.

I suggest that you do your reading and annotating at your word processor whenever possible.

HEADING:

At the top of each annotation, type a heading, using proper MLA format. Consult Hacker for the correct format for each kind of source. Do your heading as though it were an entry on a works cited page, indenting the second line.

ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENT: Provide an analysis of the important ideas. In your analysis you should include: the thesis idea; the supporting ideas that the writer examines in order to explain, illustrate, or elaborate upon the thesis,

EVALUATION OF ARGUMENT: Provide your own judgment on the effectiveness of the source. Your evaluation should answer the following questions: Does the writer use adequate specific evidence and examples to support his or her claims? Where is the evidence adequate? Where is it inadequate? Is the argument, for the most part, grounded in the analysis of concrete evidence, or does it seem to be pushing an agenda by relying upon vague generalizations, stereotypes, or labels? What's the agenda?

RECORDING OF INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL IN YOUR PROJECT.

REFLECTION ON INTEGRATING THIS SOURCE INTO YOUR THINKING: Consider how this work might be useful to you in your own project. In your reflection consider the following: What ideas or arguments from this source might you use in your own work? How does this source affect your thinking about your subject? Does it change your thinking? Support the ideas you already have? Help you to clarify or fine-tune your thinking? How might this source be useful to your in your own essay? How could you use it? Are there places you might want to quote directly? Are there places you might want to paraphrase?

ACCURATE CITATION OF PAGE NUMBERS TO AVOID PLAGIARISM

Be excruciatingly careful in your note-taking so that you avoid plagiarism. On the far left side of your annotation, put the exact page numbers for any material you take notes on whether you paraphrase, summarize, or quote it directly. Whenever you use any kind of material from a source, whether you paraphrase, summarize, quote, or refer generally to the ideas, you must give proper credit to your source. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, even if it is unintentional. Use a slash (/) in your notes to indicate that the text you are annotating extends to a new page, and write the new page number in the left-hand margin across from the slash.

Use Notes to Summarize Material

A summary condenses original material, presenting its core ideas in your own words. A properly written summary presents points in their original order without distorting their emphasis or meaning, and it omits supporting details and repetition. Summaries serve up the heart of the matter and help you give a shorter account of the material. Be sure to note the page number of material you summarize in your notes.

Use Notes to Paraphrase Material

Paraphrase ideas accurately if you think you need to present an essentially complete version of the original material you are annotating. When you paraphrase material, you state it in your own words without attempting to condense it in any way. Be sure you note the page number of material you paraphrase.

IN BOTH PARAPHRASES AND SUMMARIES, BE SURE TO USE YOUR OWN WORDS TO AVOID PLAGIARISM. WHENEVER YOU USE ANY WORDS--EVEN ONE OR TWO--THAT YOU HAVE FOUND IN A SOURCE, BE SURE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE WRITER WHO FIRST USED THOSE WORDS. PUT QUOTATION MARKS AROUND ANY WORDS THAT YOU GOT FROM THE SOURCE. DO THIS BOTH IN YOUR NOTES AND IN YOUR ESSAY.

A direct quotation copies the original exactly. Direct quotations are especially effective if the original displays special elegance or force, if you need the clear support from the words of an authority, if you need to back up your own claim on a matter of interpretation. Be sure you quote verbatim and show accurately in your notes where the quote begins and ends.