Sabolcik AP Literature AP LITERATURE RESEARCH PROJECT: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

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1 Sabolcik AP Literature AP LITERATURE RESEARCH PROJECT: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Final Draft DUE: An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, critical articles and essays, and other reference documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words or 4-6 sentences) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader in your own words of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. For this project, think of the annotated bibliography as a springboard for an imaginary paper that you would write but aren t going to. 1. Start by choosing a TOPIC of interest from the major works we ve studied so far, or a novel/play you have previously studied that appears on the AP Lit. frequent flyer list (available via Google). Consider what you want to explore in terms of that particular work. Use your knowledge and understanding of literary criticism to guide you along. 2. With that in mind, RESEARCH your topic. Locate books, periodicals, and essays that may contain useful information and ideas. Briefly examine and review your results, choosing FIVE EXTERNAL SOURCES (from the library shelves or databases not Wikipedia or Sparknotes!) that provide a variety of perspectives. Avoid sources with the word Overview in the title, which are far too broad and usually far too long! 3. Record the citation for each item as you would for any other bibliography or works cited page. 4. The next step is coming up with a THESIS STATEMENT. I ll provide you with some tips. 5. After each source citation, provide a brief ANNOTATION (in your own words) for each entry. Each annotation should include, in the order you deem most effective: 2 to 4 descriptive sentences to summarize the main idea(s) of the source 1 to 2 evaluative sentences to relate the source to your research topic and thesis statement a direct quotation, properly integrated & cited with page or paragraph number in parentheses Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. It is a seeking that he who wishes may know the cosmic secrets of the world and they that dwell therein. (Zora Neale Hurston, from Dust Tracks on a Road)

2 Research Tips: Keep up with deadlines on your agendas, the board, and my website. Don t procrastinate! This project is meant to be self-directed. However, feel free to meet with or me for extra help. Be extra careful when it comes to avoiding plagiarism. Academic dishonesty is a major violation of West s code of conduct and the Honor Code. What constitutes plagiarism? Not using quotation marks to identify a direct quotation from your source Not citing your source when using ideas and information taken from the text Not paraphrasing correctly How can you avoid plagiarism? Use your brain! Take very careful notes so that you know exactly where your information is from. Add parenthetical citations as you go. This will save you a lot of trouble in the long run! Basic MLA Style Format for an Annotated Bibliography Type your thesis at the top of the page (after THESIS:), just below your first page header. Double-space and format your citations in the same manner as for a normal paper (alphabetical order, etc.) and follow these instructions for adding annotations. Hanging Indents are required for citations in the bibliography. To set this up automatically, go to Format > Paragraph and change Special to Hanging. As with every other part of an MLA formatted paper, the bibliography is double spaced, both within the citations and between them. Do not add an extra line between citations. The annotation is a continuation of the citation. Do not drop down to the next line. The document should be in twelve-point, Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins. RESEARCH PROJECT DEADLINE #1: PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY WHAT: bibliographical citations for two sources WHEN: HOW MUCH: classwork grade (based on completion, format, and quality of sources) WHY: Keeping a working, or preliminary, bibliography in MLA format will save you valuable time in the end. It is easy to add or drop a source as needed and to arrange your list alphabetically when you begin to prepare your final project. (See your yellow packet for proper citation EXAMPLES!) KEEP IN MIND: You are required to use 5 sources in your final draft. Evaluating sources requires thought. Use reliable sources and a variety of them. Avoid bias. Avoid sources with Overview in the title, as they are generally too long and broad for this assignment. Try the following checklist for evaluating sources: o What are the author s credentials degree, job title, etc.? o Does the work contain evidence indicating that the author is well informed? o Does the work contain evidence that the author is prejudiced in any way? o Is the work recent enough to provide up-to-date information? o Does the work provide documentation to support important points? o If the source is electronic, is there evidence of frequent maintenance? 2

3 WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THIS RESEARCH? Once you have located adequate sources, you need to think about how to put your sources to work. That requires careful reading and taking notes, which demands accuracy. AVOIDING PLAGIARISM STARTS HERE! Try the following checklist for taking notes: Does every note clearly identify its source? When a source has sparked your own thoughts, have you identified both the source and the fact that the note is your own idea? Have you taken down verbatim that is, copied every word, every capital letter, and every punctuation mark exactly as it was in the original any useful passage that you think you may later quote, being especially careful to put quotation marks around any words you use directly? Keep in mind the three basic ways to show off your newfound knowledge: o o o A summary is shorter than the original source and lacks the kind of detail that fleshes out the original, but even when you summarize, you need to include a parenthetical citation. A paraphrase is when you (a) use someone else s content but not his/her specific words or (b) simplify difficult material. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking that you can substitute synonyms for an author s words while you preserve the sentence structure. This is plagiarism, even if you provide a source citation. Use a direct quotation only (a) to retain the beauty/clarity of someone else s words or (b) to discuss the implications of the words in question. Remember that each quotation you use needs a firm connection to the overall flow of your sentences and that your words are the most important! Avoid long quotations, and don t rely too heavily on quotations of any size. Make sure that your thoughts and ideas begin and end each annotation; keep quotations in the middle, where you can provide proper context and explanation. DIRECT QUOTATIONS CHECKLIST: o Have I copied all the words accurately? o Have I copied all the punctuation accurately? o Have I used a bracketed ellipsis to indicate anything that is left out? o Have I used square brackets around everything I added to the direct quotation? o Have I used too many quotations? An excellent way to introduce research into your work is to use a signal phrase that indicates the author s attitude towards or the importance of specific information. The following list of lead-in verbs is a helpful tool for doing just that: acknowledge add admit advise agree allow analyze answer argue ask assert complain declare explain list reason concede deny express maintain refute conclude describe find note reject speculate believe concur disagree grant object remark state charge confirm discuss illustrate observe reply suggest claim consider dispute imply offer report suppose comment contend emphasize insist oppose respond think compare criticize endorse interpret reveal 3

4 RESEARCH PROJECT DEADLINE #2: THESIS STATEMENT WHAT: thesis statement WHEN: HOW MUCH: homework grade (based on completion, format, and quality) WHY: A well-written thesis statement is the most important sentence in your entire bibliography. Crafting a tentative thesis ahead of time allows for teacher feedback and adequate revision. Having a thesis on hand also helps you maintain focus while constructing your annotations. KEEP IN MIND: A thesis statement is NOT a statement of accepted fact; it is the position that needs the proof you will provide in your annotations. Think of it as a claim it indicates what you claim to be interesting or valuable about your subject. It is an interpretation of your subject, rather than the subject itself. Just as important as what you re arguing is the question: How are you arguing? In other words, how are all the pieces of information that you have gathered related? Choose the most effective approach. You can t just pluck a thesis out of thin air. (There s a reason this is not the first deadline.) Return to your research to make sure that your argument has legs on which to stand. Beware of vague qualifiers such as interesting, important, and unusual. Instead, seek sharp, meaningful words that increase clarity. Do not use me, my, mine, I, you, thesis, paper, or essay in your thesis statement (or annotations!). Let your important conclusion about your research speak for itself! A strong thesis not only grabs the interest of your reader, who now wants to see you support your unique interpretation, it also provides a focus or road map for your argument. You may revise your thesis statement as you write. The important thing is for your thesis to identify the purpose of your research and for each annotation to relate back to your thesis. 4

5 RESEARCH PROJECT DEADLINE #3: FINAL DRAFT & TURNITIN.COM WHAT: final draft and turnitin.com submission WHEN: HOW MUCH: written work grade (see rubric for details): CONTENT: 20 points total The bibliography is based upon a major work from class or a frequent flyer on the AP Lit. exam The bibliography incorporates five sources, none of which are websites Each annotation adheres to the topic and exhibits sensitivity to audience and context The list of sources demonstrates adequate quality and variety ARGUMENTATION and ORGANIZATION: 40 points total Each annotation includes an adequate amount of background info. without seeming like a report Information flows in a logical progression within each annotation Each annotation is focused around a main idea and connects to the thesis The thesis statement demonstrates higher order analysis, paying ample attention to the so what factor FORMAT: 20 points total Sources are listed in alphabetical order. 0 2 The bibliography uses black, double-spaced, twelve-point, Times New Roman font only. 0 3 The bibliography begins with the labeled thesis statement, rather than a title. 0 3 Direct quotations are present and correctly integrated in each annotation Each annotation demonstrates proper use of parenthetical citations The annotations are formatted with hanging indents STYLE, GRAMMAR, and MECHANICS: 20 points total Each annotation is free of spelling errors Each annotation is free of punctuation errors Each annotation demonstrates adequate style, usage, and word choice no PV, 1 st person, clichés, etc Each annotation demonstrates adequate sentence variety, avoiding run-ons or fragments WHY: Completion of a research project is one of the requirements for English IV (AP Lit.). Completion of English IV (AP Lit.) is one of the requirements for graduation. KEEP IN MIND: You will receive an automatic zero for any of the following: o failure to turn in a research project within five days of the deadline o failure to submit your project through turnitin.com within five days of the deadline o lack of parenthetical citations The hard copy of your paper is due at the beginning of class, and your online submission is due by the same time. No technical difficulties. No ifs, ands, or buts. 5

6 Titan 1 Suzy Titan Mr. Sabolcik AP Lit. 15 December 2013 THESIS: Although Nathaniel Hawthorne emphasizes Aylmer s masculine power over weak and passive Georgiana and the conflicting gender roles greatly enhance the Gothic tension in his work, The Birthmark is a universal cautionary tale in that every human being has the potential to fall victim to his or her ambition. Keetley, Dawn. Bodies and morals: Hawthorne s The Birthmark and Neil LaBute s The Shape of Things. Literature-Film Quarterly 38.1 (2010): 16+. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 21 Oct If I were writing an annotation for this source, I would not use the word I in my brief summary of what the journal article reveals about Hawthorne s story, but I would provide a valuable quotation, with a proper citation (para. 4). It would then be appropriate to evaluate the quality of Keetley s argument. I could then connect it to my thesis statement to demonstrate how I might use it in a research paper. Notice that this source links Hawthorne s story to a contemporary play. The play has nothing to do with my thesis, but that does not prevent me from using this source. Safire, William. The crimson birthmark. New York Times 21 Jan. 2002: A1. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 21 Oct Note the alphabetical order and variety of my sources. This newspaper article reports on a Council on Bioethics at which The Birthmark was required reading and therefore provides excellent support for my thesis. 6