ENG 111: College Composition I (Hughes-Loudoun)

An annotated bibliography is more than a list of sources you are using in your research paper. Before you begin, watch this video for details.

Your instructor has asked you to find 2 acceptable sources for your topic. Look for elements of credibility and authority in the sources you choose, such as the reputation of the author, where they work (now and in the past), what and where they've published. Also note the date of publication: Consider whether you can find updated information elsewhere.

Use lateral thinking to find others who may have cited these individuals or their work in the past. This will indicate their knowledge about a subject and how well it's been accepted as fact or valid analysis by others. 

Be careful to avoid editorials or opinion pieces. If you want to use these, consider a balanced approach by finding the other side of an argument. You can avoid bias by reviewing where the source material sits in the AllSides Media Bias Chart. 

Once you have identified the resources that will be used for your essay, you will want to share why you considered these as most appropriate for your research effort. The video you watched outlined the four steps to creating an annotated bibliography:

1. Find a source.
2. Cite it (MLA format). This acts as your header for each entry in your bibliography.
3. Summarize it. Briefly restate, in your own words, the main points of the article/book/video/website you are including in this bibliography. Be sure to maintain a neutral perspective in your summary. (1-3 sentences)
4. Evaluate it. Here is where you can add your opinion about the source. Use the evaluation to tell the reader what the source contributes to your research question/project. Indicate any bias that you’ve noticed.  (@150 words).

Your instructor has indicated that the summary and your response should be presented in separate paragraphs, each comprised of "at least 5-7 well developed sentences."