Week 8: Annotated Bibliography — Samples and Student Example
Week of Mon, Oct 5 · week closes Fri, Oct 9
This week's items
Exact due times are in Canvas. Late out-of-class assignments accepted up to one week past the original due date. In-class process work and Discussion Board assignments cannot be made up.
Know these cold
- When studying model annotated bibliographies, look for the three-part structure in each annotation: summary, evaluation, and use — and notice how smoothly they transition.
- The summary section of an annotation paraphrases the source's main claim and key supporting points. It does not quote from the source and does not include your opinion.
- The evaluation section addresses the source's authority (who wrote it, for whom), currency (date relevant to your topic), and reliability (peer-reviewed? reputable publication? verifiable claims?).
- The use section tells the reader exactly how this source will function in your essay: 'This article will provide statistical evidence for my claim in section three,' not 'This article will be useful for my essay.'
- Annotations are written in present tense and formal register: 'The author argues...,' 'Chen examines...,' 'The study demonstrates...' Avoid first person ('I will use this...') unless your instructor permits it.
- Format matters: the citation uses the full MLA hanging-indent format. The annotation begins on the line directly below the citation, indented to align with the citation's second line.
- A common error in student annotations is substituting evaluation for summary — describing the source's credibility without explaining what it actually argues. Both are required.
- Plan to draft two annotation entries this week as you continue gathering sources. Aim to have all 5–7 sources identified before Week 9 peer review so you enter it with a complete draft.
Discussion and forum — how to show up
Discussion post
- Using the Purdue OWL sample and the Canvas student model, identify one strength and one area for improvement in each. What does the model show you about the expected format?
- Draft one complete annotation for a source on your topic. Exchange with a classmate: Does it have all three parts? Is it 100–150 words? Is it in formal register?
Netiquette from the syllabus: address ideas, not people. Complete sentences, correct spelling. Personal matters go to email, never the board.
Meerk's quiz — open the Week 8 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: What is the most surprising or counterintuitive thing you have found in your research so far — something that challenged your assumption about the topic?
En español: ¿Cuál es la cosa más sorprendente o contraria a la intuición que has encontrado en tu investigación hasta ahora?