Senior Research Project – Handout 5 – English 12 CP
Annotated Works Cited
In the past weeks, you completed a works cited with four sources. The next step in your research project is to summarize and evaluate your sources in an annotated bibliography.
Overview:
1.	Write a paragraph summarizing each source.
2.	Write a paragraph evaluating each source.

This assignment will be worth approximately 1/5th of your first quarter grade.

Details

1.	Write a paragraph summarizing each source that thoroughly answers all of the following questions.
o	What is the overall point of this book or article?
o	If there are multiple arguments made, what are they?
o	What topics are covered?
o	If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say?
2.	Write a paragraph evaluating each source that clearly answers all of the following questions.
o	How credible is the source? Is the information in a scholarly, peer reviewed journal? Is it in a commercial publication with an editor? Or, is it a blog, website, or discussion thread with no editor?
o	What kind of bias does your source have? Why do you think this? Use evidence from the article to support your assessment.
o	How does this source compare with the other sources in your works cited?

Your paragraphs should average about 100 words in length.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/  -- Sample MLA Annotation 

Schedule – here is what you are expected to accomplish to earn full credit: 

•	Thursday, 9/27/2012: Complete a summary and evaluation for at least one source and begin work on a second source by the end of class.
•	Tuesday 10/2/2012: Complete summaries and evaluations on your second and third sources.
•	Tuesday, 10/9/2012: Complete a summary and evaluation for your fourth source, then proofread your sources for completeness and mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, MLA format, etc.). 

If you are absent during one of our three lab days, you are expected to complete the work outside of class and turn it in by Wednesday, 10/17/2012 to be considered on time.  If your access to a computer is very limited, you may print your sources in the computer lab and handwrite your Annotated Works Cited. 

Where are we going with this?  Once you have completed your summaries and evaluations, you will be asked to evaluate your sources as a group and write a thesis statement (main argument) for your research project. What are the main points of debate surrounding your topic? What evidence is talked about? How credible are your sources? What kinds of sources do you have (scholarly journals, commercial websites, primary sources, etc.). Do you have a balance between different kinds of sources, or are all of your sources one type?