English 1320
Lesley Eblen Taylor
Paper 4 Assignment:
Annotated Bibliography
Prompt
Choose an issue that interests you, and conduct research to inform your position on this issue. Create a bibliography of at least 10 reputable sources, and write a brief annotation to explain how each source is relevant to the issue you have chosen.
Guidelines
The sources listed in your bibliography should provide you with enough information to construct a well informed, convincing argumentative essay of roughly 3 to 4 pages. I encourage you to use this assignment to gather sources for your Research Paper.
You may begin your research with a particular stance in mind, or you may be open to considering a variety of stances. In either case, you should search for a well-rounded body of information, not just facts or ideas that support a single side of the issue.
Requirements
Begin your bibliography with a brief issue statement, which presents your issue and a working thesis.
1000 words minimum.
Use current MLA guidelines to format your citations. Your Bedford Handbook contains all of the information you need to do this, and I will provide additional guidance in class.
Type your entire bibliography in double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font, with 1” margins.
Submit a a soft copy via e-mail or TRACS drop box before 2:00 on Tuesday, April 3, and a hard copy at the beginning of class on the same day.
Resources for Additional Help
Make an appointment at the Writing Center by visiting or calling 512-245-3018. Plan ahead! Schedule an appointment in advance.
I am always happy to talk with you about your work. Please come see me during my office hours, or schedule a meeting with me. I cannot offer help with papers that you e-mail to me.
Remember, on Tuesday, March 27, we will meet in our usual classroom and proceed promptly at 2:00 to FH 120.
Grading Rubric
The C bibliography meets the following expectations:
Issue statement presents an issue that is appropriate for a 3- to 4-page argumentative essay, along with a working thesis that would be suitable to guide the construction of such an essay.
Bibliography presents 10 relevant, useful, and reliable sources.
All sources are suitable for citation in an academic paper.
Annotations clearly explain how each source is relevant to the issue at hand.
Language and diction are appropriate for academic writing.
Only a few grammar and punctuation errors are present.
Minimal errors in MLA citation formatting.
The B bibliography meets all of the above expectations, in addition to accomplishing the following:
Working thesis demonstrates thoughtful consideration of the issue.
Choice of sources reveals a broad scope of research, a willingness to dig deep for particularly interesting information.
Choice of sources reveals an understanding of the issue's complexity, and of what kinds of information are needed to support the working thesis and confront opposing views.
Annotations demonstrate significant time spent with the sources listed, familiarity with the issue at hand, and awareness of opposing views.
Grammar and punctuation errors are rare.
No errors in MLA citation formatting.
The A bibliography meets all of the above expectations, but distinguishes itself through the following features:
Working thesis presents a particularly interesting and insightful position on the issue.
Scope of research reaches beyond the requirements of the assignment, demonstrating genuine interest and a desire to develop a sophisticated position on the issue.
Sources are particularly well chosen, and annotations highlight specific information that makes each source useful.
Annotations reveal a particularly high level of engagement with research sources and in-depth thinking on the issue at hand.
Paper is free of common errors. No typos.
The D bibliography falls short of the expectations outlined for a C bibliography (fewer than 10 sources, annotations are unclear, etc.), strays from the assigned prompt, or fails to meet the minimum word count.
The F paper falls significantly short of the expectations outlined for a C paper (no issue statement, annotations missing, etc.), completely fails to address the prompt, or falls short of the minimum word count by 200 words or more.