English Paper

Project 4: (100 points): Annotated Bibliography (related to project 3 and project 5)

First draft due via “assignment” in Isidore on March 28 (Monday) before 10:00pm. 

THE DEFINITION (what is annotated bibliography?)

A bibliography, like your works cited page in project 2, is a list of sources (books, journal articles, Websites) that you have used when you conducted research on a topic.  When you write an annotated bibliography, you are going to add a summary and evaluation of each source to your bibliography. 

THE PURPOSE:                                                                                                                                                   

The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to demonstrate your ability to conduct research on your selected topic to collect information and your ability to read texts (both primary and secondary texts, especially the latter) critically.   An annotated bibliography can be published to present the current status of research on a topic so that other scholars can see what has been done in the literature.  However, this is not our purpose for this assignment.  Instead, you are asked to collect information on how scholars discuss one aspect on how China’s middle class performs their middle class identity and explain how each source may be used for your project 5. 

THE AUDIENCE:

You and me!  You will use it later when you work on your project 5.  I will check your sources to make sure you are on the right track on your project 5. 

The REQUIREMENTS:

Your annotated bibliography should include:

·        A minimum of Five (5) SCHOLARLY sources (a source with credentialed author(s) +bibliography) and Three (3) credible sources.  This is a record of the sources you have read. 

·        Use MLA format to list the bibliographical information of the source.  For example,
if it is a book,
   Last name of the author, First name.  Book Title.  Place of publisher: Publisher name, year of      publication.  Print. 

If it is a journal article,
   Last name of the author, First name.  “Title of the Article.” Journal Title volume. issue (year of     publication): page numbers. 

·        All entries of your annotated bibliography should be presented in alphabetical order

·        Use YOUR OWN WORDS to show your understanding of each source after a close reading

·        Each entry should include

1)      Thorough summary of the source (what topics are covered? what is the main points in the source? Quotes should be used infrequently (if at all) and should only be used to relate the main ideas of the sources. )

2)      Evaluation of the source (How does this source compare to your other sources? Is this a credible source? What is the goal of this source? Is the source objective, or does it reflect a bias?)

3)      Reflection of the source (How will this source help you when you write your paper?
NOTE:  You do not have to use every source from your AB in your final paper.  Some of the sources may be sources you cannot use in your paper, and this should be stated in your reflection.)

Example of Annotation:

Laskowski, Timothy "Naming Reality in Native American and Eastern European Literatures." MELUS 19.3 (1994): 47-59. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.  In this article, Laskowski attacks the ideas of post-structuralism, especially those which seek to ignore political and historical influences on Native American literature and discusses the importance of “naming reality” in Native American and Eastern European literature.  In addition, he examines the use of names as a means by which to preserve an oppressed culture, looking specifically at Polish oppression during and after World War II and Native American oppression by the American government.  Laskowski also examines the role that the spirit quest played in the naming of Native American individuals and posits that the community plays an essential role in this naming; without the community, the individual cannot truly acquire a name which reflects his vision quest or accomplishments.  He or she is validated by the vision quest (Laskowski 55-56). 

This article will be helpful to my paper as it will help to explain the importance of Zits’ rejoining the community and earning the use of his name within that community.  Only after Zits completes his vision quest and re-enters society is he validated as one who truly belongs to the community—as implied by Mary’s statement that they seek to make him a permanent member of the family (Alexie), and it is this re-entry into the community which allows him to finally begin to use his real name, Michael.  The article also discusses naming as a means of survival for a marginal culture within the dominant culture, which will allow me to fully examine the way in which Zits reclaiming of both his Native culture and white American name allows him to take his place within the American community.

For further examples, please see The Purdue OWL at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/