essay

Annotated Bibliography

In Week One of the course, you developed a research question and began researching various sources that relate to that question. You will use the library sources and websites you have collected this week to create your Final Paper for the course, which is an annotated bibliography.

An annotated bibliography can serve various purposes. Sometimes annotated bibliographies are used as a broad survey of a research topic. They can also be used to demonstrate the research that you have done on a specific topic. A third use of an annotated bibliography is to explore a specific subtopic in more detail. Annotated bibliographies should only include strong sources that pass the CRAAP test. Watch the GEN103 – Week Five: Annotated Bibliography video.

In order to complete this assignment, focus on the research question you developed in Week One. Remember that you can use your annotated bibliography to broadly explore your research question. The point of exploring the topic is to hone your research question and learn more about the topic in general. The “Creating the Annotated Bibliography” section of these instructions explains how you will structure your assignment.

First, explain your research topic and why you chose this topic. This can be done in three to four sentences. You will be gathering various types of sources (i.e., two websites, three scholarly articles, and one scholarly book) that relate directly to the topic that you chose.

After explaining your topic and why you chose it, you will create an annotation for each source (i.e., two websites, three scholarly articles, and one scholarly book). Your paper will include a total of six sources. Each annotation must have the following content:

• Reference: Include a complete reference for each source. Format your references according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Purpose: Below each reference, explain the purpose or the thesis of the source in the first sentence of the annotation.
• Content: After explaining the purpose or thesis, describe the content and elements of the source.
• Evidence: After explaining the overall structure of the source, summarize the evidence that the author uses to support his or her claims. Does the author use numbers, statistics, historical documents, or draw from work created by other intellectuals?
• Relation: Explain how the source relates to other sources you have found on this topic throughout the course. Point out how it contradicts or supports these sources.

Each annotation should be between 100 and 150 words. After you complete the annotation, the second thing that you will do is use the handout, Evaluating Information – Applying the CRAAP Test, to evaluate the source. Remember that CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Accuracy, Authority, and Purpose. You will write another 100- to 150-word paragraph immediately following the annotation in which you evaluate the source and explain the strengths of the source. At the end of the paragraph, you will explain why you would feel confident using the source in a larger research paper.

You are required to use the Annotated Bibliography Template to help format your work. Be sure to refer back to the instructions for the assignment to ensure all elements are addressed as required. View the Annotated Bibliography Example for additional guidance as you work to complete this assignment.

Creating the Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography must include

• A title page with the following:
• Title of paper
• Student’s name
• Course name and number
• Instructor’s name
• Date submitted
• A statement of research question and why it was chosen (three to four sentences).
• Annotations and responses for six sources in the following order:
• Annotation 1 (Website 1): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP method (100 to 150 words)
• Annotation 2 (Website 2): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP method (100 to 150 words)
• Annotation 3 (Scholarly Article 1): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP method (100 to 150 words)
• Annotation 4 (Scholarly Article 2): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP method (100 to 150 words)
• Annotation 5 (Scholarly Article 3): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP method (100 to 150 words)
• Annotation 6 (Scholarly Book): Include elements above (100 to 150 words)
  • Response and evaluation of source using CRAAP Test (100 to 150 words)