Short Write No. 3:
Finding and Evaluating Sources:
An Annotated Bibliography

Click here for a printable pdf version of this page.

Purpose:

There are five purposes of this short write.  The first is to provide you the opportunity to perform some library and/or scholarly-source research regarding a topic related to this course.  The second is to help you find and evaluate appropriate resources for college writing.  The third is to give you experience in the expository or descriptive writing styles.   Fourth, you will learn how to write an annotated bibliography.  Finally, this is your opportunity to begin to become familiar with MLA style, particularly with respect to citations.  Remember:  the purpose of these short writes is to give you practice in skill areas so that you have the tools you need when it comes to your substantive research and writing later on.

Resources:

*        Read How to Write Annotated Bibliographies, at http://www.marthabianco.com/Courses/annotatedbibs.htm

*        Quick Citation Guide for Dr. Bianco’s Classes, at http://www.marthabianco.com/Courses/Cities/citation_guide.pdf

*        Sample MLA-Formatted Paper, by Dr. Bianco, at http://www.marthabianco.com/Courses/Formatted_Paper_Example.pdf (this was also included in your first day Welcome Packet)

*       Go to Research Survival Online: A Library Guide for PSU Students, at http://www.lib.pdx.edu/instruction/survivalguide/index.htm

·         Work through the entire guide.  First skim; then read sections that contain information you do not know. 

·         Be sure to view the silent video on How to Find a Journal in the Library’s Collection, at http://www.lib.pdx.edu/instruction/survivalguide/findingjournalsvideo.swf

·         Be sure to view the Demonstration Video on Searching the Academic Search Elite Database, by clicking on the second “Show Me” video at http://www.lib.pdx.edu/instruction/survivalguide/articlesmain.html#video .

*       Visit the Class Writing Checklist:  take advantage of all of the resources at the Writing Checklist web page at http://www.marthabianco.com/Courses/Cities/checklist.htm, particularly the Grading Checklist at http://www.marthabianco.com/Courses/Cities/grading-writing-checklist.pdf. 

*       Read Hodges, 37a-e, p. 546-567; 38a-e, p. 568-583

·         Go to the Hodges Online Companion Site. 
at http://wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&discipline_number=300&product_isbn_issn=083840345X

1.        Go to Chapter 37

2.        Do Composition Live, Animated Examples 1-5 (Assessing Information Needs through Print Media)

3.        Do Interactive Plus Activity

*       Read Hodges, 38a-e, p. 568-583

*       Go to the Hodges Online Companion Site. 
at http://wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&discipline_number=300&product_isbn_issn=083840345X

1.        Go to Chapter 38

2.        Do Composition Interactive, Interactive Plus Activities No. 1 and 2 (Determining Author Credibility and Determining Web Site Credibility)  Note:  there are accidentally two “Composition Interactives” listed for Ch. 38.  Do the second one.

3.        Do Composition Live,  Animated Examples 1-5.

 

Instructions:

Choose one of the potential research topics listed below and prepare a two-page annotated bibliography using the critical annotation format. 

 

The following are requirements for this project:

 

q       Annotate five sources. Be sure to include a brief statement about why you chose each source

q       At least two of the sources must be scholarly (from peer-reviewed journals or scholarly texts), although this may include journal articles accessed from the library’s full-text database.

q       Two may be a source other than scholarly, but still appropriate and widely accepted as a reliable source of information.  Examples include online Census data, online articles or documents written by an established expert or scholar in a field (provide substantiation for your selection), online newspaper or other periodical article.

q       One item from the shelves of the library:  after using the computer catalog to locate a source in the library, go to the library and browse the shelves around that item; choose that item or any other(s) that are of interest to you.  Be sure to include the call number for item(s) you retrieve in this way, even though that is not a normal requirement for an annotated bibliography.

q       Each annotation entry may be single spaced.  You should have one double space between entries. 

q       Entries should conform to MLA citation standards.

q       You are limited to two pages plus a cover page.  MLA style is required.

 

Choose from among the following topics, or, if you desire a different topic, please write me at biancom@q7.com and ask what I think:

 

Topics

(Note:  your selection of a topic does not commit you to that topic for later research purposes)

 

ü      What Paolo Freire and Maria Montessori Had in Common

ü      Education Reform and Controversy: What the Argument is About

ü      What Is Real? How Film, Art, and Literature Question Reality

ü      How Well Does Conventional Education Accommodate Multiple Intelligences?

ü      Plato Versus Aristotle: Competing Schools of Epistemology

ü      Standardized Testing: Pros and Cons

ü      What bell hooks and Paolo Freire Had in Common

ü      Who Homeschools in Oregon – and Why?

 

I need help with this assignment!