Annotated Bibliography

WRC 1023—Science and Pseudoscience

Mr. Gifford

Research Quiz ___

Annotated Bibliography ___

Submit Rough Draft ___

Final Draft Safe Assign Submission ___

Final Paper Due ___

Essay Two: Addressing a Lack of Skepticism

By this point in the semester, you should have analyzed the rhetorical efficacy of two different authors and read several articles

about skepticism and pseudoscience in the United States. For this essay, identify a pseudoscientific subject within our culture that

you feel should be viewed more skeptically. This will first require you to construct a definition of “pseudoscience.” After you’ve

defined pseudoscience, determine the most effective method to convince your audience that the subject you’ve identified is

indeed pseudoscientific and that it should be viewed more skeptically. You might also consider explaining what could happen if the audience doesn’t view this subject skeptically.

Requirements:

 Length: 4.5 -6 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins on all sides.

 A minimum of four sources required. Please use the library to find your sources. You are only allowed two internet sources, and the only internet sources allowed are The New York Times, Washington Post, San Antonio Express-News,

The Times of London, and CQ Researcher. You must receive approval for all of your sources. Submit an annotated

bibliography of six potential sources on or before ___

 Integrate all quotes. No dropped quotes, please.

 Remain in third person. First person plural might be acceptable.

 MLA format is required (See The Little Roadrunner) Approach:

 Envision your audience and deliberately write to them and not to simply fulfill an assignment. Remember the difference between writer-based reasons and reader-based reasons.

 The audience is neutral or undecided on your topic. Therefore, use a classical argument structure and persuade the audience members to shift their views.

 Be as specific as possible when identifying your subject.

 Consciously attempt to find the perfect balance between truth-seeking and persuasion.

 Consciously use the Toulmin system and the rhetorical triangle to plan your argument.

 Use an enthymeme for your thesis statement.

Essay Two Checklist

___Complete the Research quiz on Blackboard before ___

___Submit an annotated, evaluative bibliography containing six sources to the “E2 Annotated Bibliography” module in the E2

Begins folder. I must receive your bibliography on or before ___. You will receive source approval shortly thereafter.

Please see 66-70 in Little Roadrunner for a full description of annotated bibliographies. There is also a sample

annotated bibliography on Blackboard in the Essay 2 Begins folder

___Attend the Peer Review session in the writing lab on ___

___Submit your final draft to the Essay Two Safe Assign Module in Blackboard on ___

___Submit a print-out of your annotated bibliography, your rough draft, peer review sheet, safe assign originality report, and final

draft on ___.

All items on this checklist must be completed, or I will not grade your paper and you will receive a 0 for Paper 2.