Return to Course
Creating an annotated bibliography is a skill you will use in college and professional research (especially in education).
Go to the Purdue OWL website for annotated bibliographies: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.html.
For English, use the MLA citation and for education, use the APA citation style:
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995.
Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic. Lamott's overarching argument is to enjoy life through writing.
In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.
Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.
In the sample annotation above, the writer includes three paragraphs: a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to his/her own research, respectively.
For information on formatting MLA citations, see our MLA 2016 Formatting and Style Guide.
Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation. Ehrenreich concludes that minimum wage is no longer sufficient for a living wage.
An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched. This is useful for this research project.
The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project’s strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source’s potential importance or usefulness for this person’s own research.
Let's find sources for your annotated bibliography. Be aware, source may be chapters in books rather than articles. Go to the BC Library homepage.
Let's start with JSTOR, which is an excellent source for literary criticism.
For the Project Two Rough Draft Workshop Online, begin by copying and pasting the rubric below onto YOUR wiki page with the rough draft of your paper. Remember, if BOTH the paper and the rubric are directly pasted to the wiki, it's a LOT easier for your reviewers.
Reviewer 1: _________________________________________________
Reviewer 2: _________________________________________________
Name: _________________________________________________________________________
Annotated Bibliography and Historic Overview Rubric
Full participation in Rough Draft Workshop and Conferences (Yes) (No – loss of 10%): ______________
|
|
A |
B – C |
C- – F |
Comments |
|
Bibliography (10 pts) |
Complete Accurate citation |
Inaccurate citation |
Incomplete (less than 15 sources) |
|
|
Research Question (10 pts) |
Present Question that could be answered with a research project |
Present In question formation |
Incomplete or absent |
|
|
Historic Overview (40) |
Announces the topic Statement of purpose (summaries historical overview in 1-2 sentences) Supports statement of purpose in 1-2 pages Smooth, chronological discussion of topic’s evolution and continuity in scholarship |
Announces the topic Statement of purpose (summaries historical overview in 1-2 sentences) Supports statement of purpose in 1-2 pages Attempts chronological discussion of topic’s evolution in scholarship
|
Lacks topic or clear statement of purpose Fails to fully describe the chronological evolution of topic in scholarship |
|
|
Annotations (40 total) |
Complete (15- 20 sources) Includes 1-2 sources from 1980s or 1990s Includes 3-5 sources from 2010 and later Includes complete summary & assessment (1-2 paragraphs) Uses the diction and syntax of an annotated bibliography |
Complete (at least 15 sources) Includes 1-2 sources from 1980s or 1990s Includes 3-5 sources from 2010 and later Includes summary and assessment Attempts diction and syntax of annotated bibliography |
Incomplete (less than 15 sources) Does not include sources from all required date ranges. Lacks either summary or assessment Improper diction and/or syntax |
|
|
Summary (20) |
1-2 paragraphs Uses appropriated diction and syntax (brief and professional) Addresses all important aspects of research article |
At least one paragraph Attempts appropriate style and tone |
Less than one paragraph Inappropriate style and tone |
|
|
Assessment (20) |
Assess the value of the research/article (positive and negative) Recognizes the context of the research Comments on method, or theory (demonstrates student’s understanding of the research) |
Assess the value of the research/article as positive or negative |
Lacks assessment (or assessment not apparent) |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
Once you have saved this rubric on your page, exchange papers with TWO peers. You will get comments from both of them AND leave comments for both of them.