There are two parts to this assignment. Part 1, due 3/11, is the annotated bibliography. Part 2, due 4/8,
is the paper itself. Your paper proposal will be the beginning of your annotated bibliography.
Paper Assignment #2, Part 1: Annotated Bibliography
As preparation for your research paper, you will choose a topic and find at least five peerreviewed, academic sources that explain the truth of your issue or what is wrong with the pseudodocumentary’s portrayal of it. It’s a good idea to look for sources through the databases you can access
through our library, such as LibSearch or JSTOR. Remember to check the peer-reviewed scholarly sources
tickbox if you’re using LibSearch. If you want to use sources you found elsewhere, make sure they are credible
sources – no citing Wikipedia or some random person’s blog – and check with me before you use them. You will
need to defend why you find those sources credible in your annotated bibliography. Our research librarians are
available to consult with you about evaluating sources if you click the Research Consultation link in our course
menu.
For your non-academic sources, which you will need to show exactly what you’re debunking, of course
there is your pseudo-documentary. Also, go directly to the most central, highly-trafficked sources you can find;
Google will be your friend there. Remember that these sources, so long as you can show that they are widely
read and influential rather than an isolated pocket of one crazy person, are credible to show what the person or
people you’re investigating are saying about what they believe, even though of course they are not credible for
any other purpose. To figure out if something counts as widely read or influential, check how many users there
are in a forum, or how many views/likes/shares a post or video has, or how many other sites/people are repeating
the same ideas.
Here is a specific format to follow. Just as in your previous paper proposal, in a brief paragraph
before you begin the bibliography, clearly state your topic, how you arrived at it, and your tentative
thesis for the research paper. Then you will list each source alphabetically in MLA format. You will
then annotate each source in the following format (note that this is the format for an online article; if
you have other kinds of sources, the format will be a little different):
Sample, George A. “This is an Article in an Academic Journal.” Grey Haired Academics Monthly,
Volume #, Issue #. Date of publication. pp. Academic Database. Web. Date Accessed.
3-4 sentences: Summary – What is the author’s thesis? What are the main ideas supporting that thesis?
What is the purpose?
3-4 sentences: Analysis – Is the author clearly identifiable? Can you establish her or his credibility? Is
the source’s presentation clear and reasonable, or is the language biased? Is there any reason to suspect
bias on the author’s part (philosophical, religious, political, cultural)? If so, what do you think are the
biases? Is there any evidence backing the purpose? Is it verifiable? Anecdotal? Relevant to the
purpose? Is it testable? Can it be independently verified through another source not related to this one?
3-4 sentences: Evaluation – What is your opinion of this source? What is its potential value to your
research paper? Is it topical, timely, and relevant to your paper? How exactly do you plan to use it?