Proposal and Annotated Bibliography

Description

Proposal and Annotated Bibliography 10% Due Nov. 9    title page (1 page) + proposal (1 page) + Annotated Bibliography (1-2 pages) = 3-4 pages total: 3-4 pages  Double space. Times New Roman or Ariel 12 pt. font. 1″ margins.  Lateness policy: 2% per day, up to a maximum of 5 days or 10% Read and apply the lessons from LS W-14 “Annotated Bibliographies” pages 74 – top of 78 as well as R-2 “Evaluating Sources” pages 102 – 105. See the sample page posted as an image below; note: your Annotated Bibliography pages need to be double spaced throughout.  1. Title page. Make a standard APA title page.  2. The proposal part: The proposal is one paragraph only.   Include page numbers in the header at the top right. Center the title of your proposal on this page. The proposal introduces the topic of your research essay, what you intend to argue, and how you will support that. The final essay is an argument essay in which you take a stand on something. There are three general topic areas for the argumentative essay: 1. social media, the internet, digital culture, and/or smartphones; 2. sports and activism, racism, Black Lives Matter, and/or politics; 3. what is important for educational, personal, and/or career success? (see the Swidler article for an example; she argues curiosity is important). After selecting one of the general topics and doing research on it so that you know some of the discussions and debates, craft a draft thesis that is arguable. Narrow down the broad topic so that you do not weaken your argument by trying to cover too much ground. It is better to develop and expand ideas about select areas of discussion rather than try to cover many areas of discussion with few ideas. Narrow down a specific, arguable thesis. Because the final essay is a research paper that makes a claim, that is, it asserts an argument, you can’t just write an exposition (a paper that explains or describes a topic). Your proposal develops a focused thesis where you take a stand on something; a topic is arguable when there are counter-arguments to your argument (that is, people have different points of view on it). To help you create a claim or point of view on a topic, ask questions about it. See LS pages 91-92. Once you have picked your topic and narrowed down a draft thesis, have written and handed in your Proposal and Annotated Bibliography, you can not change the topic or thesis area of your final research essay.  For the proposal paragraph, provide brief background information and context on your topic in a similar way that you would when writing an introductory paragraph. Begin with the general and move toward the specific. Make clear what you will argue about the topic by writing a simple thesis statement (it reveals your planned essay’s focus and makes a comment on it). The proposal is not a draft essay; you write only one paragraph to explain what you will be writing about in the final essay, and you make clear the focus of your argument in relation to the topic. The thesis should be placed towards the end of the paragraph.  3. The bibliography part: The annotated bibliography lists the secondary sources that you will use for your final essay. Each secondary source listed is a citation. Because you need to include three secondary sources, there will be a minimum of three citations in the Annotated Bibliography section of your P&B.  The annotated bibliography is about two pages long. It is an evaluative annotated bibliography. List a minimum of three secondary sources: 1. two academic/scholarly secondary sources (journal articles or chapters) and 2. one additional secondary sources (academic or popular). You are not restricted to only use three secondary sources; however, all secondary sources must be credible. Begin by centering the title Annotated Bibliography at the top of the page.  Alphabetize your citations by author’s last name.  For each citation, write the name of the author/s, title of the source, name of the publication or site (the “container”; see page 130 LS), publication year, volume, page numbers, or any other necessary information. After that, write up a one paragraph evaluation of the source.  To write the one paragraph evaluation for each citation, summarize the ideas in the source and its main points in two to three brief clearly-written sentences. Then, for each citation, in one or two brief clearly-written sentences explain how ideas in the source will help support your claim (i.e., what you are planning to write about). Each citation should be no less than three sentences and no more than five sentences. To list your secondary sources on the Bibliography portion of the P&B, follow the format of the annotated bibliography in the image below except double space your entire text. In sum, for each citation, after the basic identifying information on the secondary source, write one paragraph that includes 1. a summary of the main points or ideas in the source; and 2. an explanation of how ideas in the source will help you in developing, supporting, or arguing ideas in your own paper.  Keep in mind that the condensed summary of the source is evaluative, not only descriptive. You have to state clearly how the secondary source will help you support your claim (thesis). For more on how to write Annotated Bibliographies, see Lakehead University library’s link to the U of T page on how to write an annotated bibliography.