Topics linked items below are either brief videos or tutorials to help explain that area or give you new ways of approaching that topic.
- Identify your research question. Make sure the scope of your question is appropriate for the assignment
requirements. If you’re having trouble choosing 5 relevant sources, you may need to narrow the scope
of your question. Enter your research question in the box below (it’s okay to update it as you gather sources).
- Identify the 5 sources you will include in your annotated bibliography. Make note of the 5 sources in the
space below. Be sure to include any information about the source that you will need to create a proper
citation in MLA or APA style as directed your professor.
- Read (see video on How to Read Scholarly Materials) . Then, summarize the article or book. Repeat this step for each of the 5 sources. First, identify the main argument, the purpose of the source, topics it covers, and conclusions it may draw (if it is a research study).
- Assess the source in terms of usefulness and reliability. Repeat this step for each of the 5 sources.
- In terms of usefulness, consider how the source fits into your research question, how it might
help you shape your argument, and how you could use it in answering your research question.
- In terms of reliability, consider both the quality of the platform (web pages? Journal? Publisher?)
and any biases (See Introduction to Bias or Types of Biases) you may have detected.
Tip: Make sure that you do not use the same introductory phrase for every entry;
create some variety in order to keep the reader's interest.
• By studying the ways…Smith…
• Offering evidence from field research, Smith…
• In her article, Smith…
• It is suggested in Smith’s article that…
5. The bibliographic expression or statement —information you would include in a works-cited list. Be sure to use the MLA or APA citation style. Correctness of this form may be evaluated. ALWAYS refer to the author(s) by LAST NAME only— there is no need to include their first name since it is already in the bibliographic statement.