And just like that, it's time to start thinking about our essays for Unit 2. The first draft of your cultural context essays are due until next week, but this Saturday you will turn in your Annotated Bibliographies. In this post I cover:
A (Very) Few Words About the Cultural Context for "Jury of Her Peers"Perhaps you would like to write about Susan Glaspell and women's suffrage. We'll talk more about this story in class, but if do decide to look into this setting, here's a link to a video with background information to get you started. Annotated Bibliography GuidelinesConscientiously done, an good annotated bibliography can make for very easy essay drafting. Personally, I find this to be the most time-intensive step of the essay. For me, drafting a research essay comes easier than drafting an analytical essay because I've already assembled my material. This material assembling is what the Annotated Bibliography is all about. Just so you know, we will be writing one other research essay this semester. So it behooves us all to really attempt to get our heads around these research skills because we will be doing them all over again soon. Writing an annotated bibliography involves several steps. Each annotation typically consists of a citation followed by a brief paragraph that describes and sometimes evaluates the source. Here's a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Choose Your Sources Begin by selecting the sources that you will annotate in your bibliography. These should be sources that provide valuable information related to your topic or research question. You will need to have three sources for your essay in addition to the short story. That means your Annotated Bibliography will include three entries. Please reference the Research Folder in Blackboard. I have arranged databases and websites in descending order of usefulness. National Geographic is the first entry. I would be delighted if every student had at least one source from National Geographic. Step 2: Review Your Sources Read and evaluate your sources to understand their content, arguments, and relevance to your topic. Take notes as you go, especially on aspects that you want to highlight in your annotation. Just like with our dialectical journals, if you see any promising quotes, bookmark them somehow. This will make the next steps of your research paper (outline, 1st draft, final draft) way easier. Step 3: Cite the Source Start each entry with a full bibliographic citation in the appropriate style. For our purposes, this means MLA. Here is a link to the Purdue style guide we've been referencing. Also very helpful is a website like MyBib that saves and formats your sources for free. Step 4: Summarize the Source Write a concise summary of the main argument or purpose of the work. Include the main points, topics, and any conclusions drawn by the author. Aim for a neutral and objective tone. Each of your three annotations should be 100-200 words long. Step 5: Reflect on the Source's Relevance and Use Reflect on how the source fits into your research. You need to include at least one sentence that explains how it will be useful to your essay. Discuss how it changed your thinking on the topic, or how it might influence your paper or the way you will present your information. Annotated Bibliography Example EntrySmith, John. "Renewable Energy in the 21st Century." _Energy Journal_, vol. 35, no. 4, 2020, pp. 123- 145.
Smith's article offers a thorough analysis of the progress and potential of renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. He reviews a range of recent studies and forecasts that these technologies could become the dominant energy sources by the middle of the century. Smith, an environmental scientist, argues for essential policy changes to promote renewable energy adoption. His article will significantly contribute to the literature review on renewable energy, providing a forward-looking perspective supported by recent studies. Moreover, Smith's detailed examination of the policy changes necessary for this energy shift will be instrumental in framing the discussion on renewable energy adoption in my research. This source is particularly valuable for its in-depth analysis and its focus on future implications within the field. Comments are closed.
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