THEO 626
RESEARCH PROJECT: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
An annotated bibliography is a compilation of references to books, articles, and other supporting
documents. Each citation or reference is summarized by a brief (usually about 150 words)
descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. Many writers use annotation to provide the
reader with the relevance to the topic selected. One reason you are asked to create an annotated
bibliography is to develop a variety of skills including concise exposition, cogent analysis, and
informed library research. You will need this skill as you walk through the process of writing
your research paper. The annotated bibliography also serves as the first step of the research
paper, as you explore possible topics and the available sources for later use/incorporation.
INSTRUCTIONS
Be certain to read the instructions for the Final Submission of the Research Project before
proceeding. It explains the four-step process for the paper during the course.
This first assignment must include a statement of the proposed research topic.
Identify 5 scholarly sources relevant to the topic of the doctrine of God. Journal sources
should be published within the last ten years; books the last twenty. You may narrow the
focus of these sources further to a narrower topic (i.e. God’s providence and evil, God
and time, etc.) that you hope to submit during later stages [Thesis/Summary] of the
research project for approval.
For each source, include four elements: bibliographic entry, author information,
annotation, and relevant quote. Each of these headings should be on the left margin in
bold followed by a colon. Then the required information follows. After each of the four
elements is complete, then complete the same process for source 2, then 3, and so on.
List source in proper Turabian bibliographic form (which differs from footnote form).
Identify the author as to academic employment, area of research concentration, and
credentials to establish as relevant authority.
Provide an annotation of no more than 150 words per resource. Attempt to display the
key ideas of the source, its significance to the suggested topic, how it relates to other
sources in the field, and how it is helpful to the research (is it unique? controversial?
cutting edge? is it in answer to a persistent research question?) [These are suggestive and
not exhaustive].
Provide a quote that you might use in a later stage of the research.
Try to balance scholarly journals and books. The final list of resources used in the
research project must have an approximate 50/50 balance of journals and books.
These sources cannot be ones used previously (unless previously approved) in other
courses nor can the content submitted previously be used in this assignment.
Edit for typos, spelling, grammar, and style based on current Turabian formatting (which
includes a title page and proper page numbering).
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
