Annotated Bibliography and 2-page Literature Review Annotated Bibliography: Your annotated bibliography follows the same conventions as an MLA works cited page. However, after each entry for a source you must include about five sentences annotating the source. In these five sentences you must describe the content and or argument of the source, you must explain how you expect to use the source in your research paper, and you must evaluate the credibility of the source. The annotated bibliography should have ten sources on it. Your research paper will have at least eight sources in it. So, some of the sources that appear on your annotated bibliography may not appear in your research paper, and other sources that are not on your annotated bibliography may appear in your research paper. The annotations should be written in complete snetences. When you describe the content and or argument of each source be sure to provide a concise, but thorough discussion of what the source contains. Think of this as a brief summary of the source and be sure to mention the topic, the position, and breadth of the source. If the source includes research or data be sure to mention those findings. When you explain how you expect to use the source in your research paper, you might state that you are using it because it presents an important perspective on your topic, or it includes helpful statistics or research that support your solution, or that it provides an opposing viewpoint that is important to include to boost your credibility and show that you are aware of various views on the topic. You might use an older source to produce important background and or historical context that the reader needs to understand about the topic. You might choose to use a source because it has a great bibliography and or links to other helpful sources. When you discuss the credibility of each source consider when the source was written, by whom, and for what publication. As we have discussed in class, even a Tweet can be used as a credible source as long as you are using it to show this is what people are saying about a current topic. You just need to think about how you are going to use a source in relation to evaluating its credibility. So, while an academic article by a highly respected scholar, published in a peer-reviewed journal seems credible, if it is from 1980 and on media, it may not be credible if you are focusing on social media in 2020. However, if you are discussing the ways media impacts us today versus in 1980 the article would be credible. Credibility can vary based on the context in which you are using a source and based on the way you frame the source. Note: Wikipedia is not a credible source regardless of the context. *For examples and more on annotated bibliographies see pages 500-504 in Everyone’s an Author* 2-Page Literature Review: In this part of the assignment you will write about two pages, double-spaced about how your sources speak to each other. Put .

1. Annotated Bibliography and 2-page Literature Review
Annotated Bibliography:
Your annotated bibliography follows the same conventions as an
MLA works cited page. However, after each entry for a source
you must include about five sentences annotating the source. In
these five sentences you must describe the content and or
argument of the source, you must explain how you expect to use
the source in your research paper, and you must evaluate the
credibility of the source. The annotated bibliography should
have ten sources on it. Your research paper will have at least
eight sources in it. So, some of the sources that appear on your
annotated bibliography may not appear in your research paper,
and other sources that are not on your annotated bibliography
may appear in your research paper. The annotations should be
written in complete snetences.
When you describe the content and or argument of each source
be sure to provide a concise, but thorough discussion of what
the source contains. Think of this as a brief summary of the
source and be sure to mention the topic, the position, and
breadth of the source. If the source includes research or data be
sure to mention those findings.
When you explain how you expect to use the source in your
research paper, you might state that you are using it because it
presents an important perspective on your topic, or it includes
helpful statistics or research that support your solution, or that
it provides an opposing viewpoint that is important to include to
boost your credibility and show that you are aware of various
views on the topic. You might use an older source to produce
important background and or historical context that the reader
needs to understand about the topic. You might choose to use a
source because it has a great bibliography and or links to other
helpful sources.
When you discuss the credibility of each source consider when
the source was written, by whom, and for what publication. As

2. we have discussed in class, even a Tweet can be used as a
credible source as long as you are using it to show this is what
people are saying about a current topic. You just need to think
about how you are going to use a source in relation to
evaluating its credibility. So, while an academic article by a
highly respected scholar, published in a peer-reviewed journal
seems credible, if it is from 1980 and on media, it may not be
credible if you are focusing on social media in 2020. However,
if you are discussing the ways media impacts us today versus in
1980 the article would be credible. Credibility can vary based
on the context in which you are using a source and based on the
way you frame the source. Note: Wikipedia is not a credible
source regardless of the context.
*For examples and more on annotated bibliographies see pages
500-504 in Everyone’s an Author*
2-Page Literature Review:
In this part of the assignment you will write about two pages,
double-spaced about how your sources speak to each other. Put
your sources “in conversation” with each other. By this I mean
you should explain how your sources relate to each other. Do
they comment on each other directly or indirectly? An example
of a source commenting directly on another source is when one
source explicitly refers to the author of another source that you
are using. An indirect comment means that one source discusses
the ideas or argument of another of your sources, but does so
without mentioning a specific author or article. Include what the
authors would think about each other’s points. You also want to
make sure that in your literature review you address ways your
sources connect with each other, and work together to provide
thorough background of the topic. Be careful to include
differing positions on the topic.
In terms of organization, you probably do not want to compare
every source to every other source. This kind of organization is
unwieldy and not the most effective. Think about how the
sources relate to one another logically. Do they follow a clear
progression that makes a chronological organization most

3. logical? Do they group by theme? By the authors’ perspectives?
By research methods? By trends in the research? For instance,
you might group a scholarly article that makes a particular
argument with a personal narrative that supports that argument
and with a source that has data and statistics that support the
argument. Or, you might choose to group three sources that each
express a different perspective on the topic together and explain
how the differences are important to one’s full understanding of
the conversation surrounding the topic. There is no one correct
organizational structure. I do suggest avoiding going through
the sources one by one. You want to highlight the ways the
sources relate to each other, and grouping them provides a good
way to highlight their relationships with each other.
Research Proposal
Your research proposal should propose something that at least
one person thinks ought to be done. Proposals are
recommendations that something be done, often to bring about
some kind of change or solve a problem. Your proposal should
identify a problem and it should include careful analysis of
several possible courses of action in response to the problem.
Proposals argue for clear solutions to specific problems, and as
with any argument, they build a convincing case that what they
recommend should be considered---and perhaps even acted on.
The 2-3 page double spaced proposal should include:
1. A clear description of the problem.
2. A clear compelling solution to the problem.
3. Evidence that your solution will address the problem.
4. Acknowledgement of other possible solutions.
5. A statement of what your proposal will accomplish.
Introduction:
Consider using an anecdote or narrative to start out that uses
emotional appeals (pathos) to connect with your reader
emotionally and highlights shared values. Build common ground
with the reader by doing so. Introduce the topic and provide

4. sufficient background information and context to introduce your
topic and argument. This will help you start building your ethos
or credibility.
Thesis: Should state argument and map out the structure of the
essay. For instance: “While evidence shows that in certain
countries legalizing drugs has reduced the problems of crime
and addiction, legalizing drugs in the United States would not
work the same way for the following three reasons. First, GIVE
REASON ONE. Second, GIVE REASON TWO. Third, GIVE
REASON THREE.
Solution
s that are better suited to addressing the problems associated
with drugs and addiction in the United States include: solution
one; solution two; solution three. Finally, it is only by
recognizing the differences at work in various countries that we
can begin to solve this problem.”
Supporting Paragraphs:
Topic sentence that follows the map that the thesis has set up.
Explanation of the topic sentence. Use of evidence (logos) to
support your point. Use signal phrases for quotations.
Remember to use MLA in-text citation for all quotes,
information, statistics, and examples that come from other
sources. Analysis of evidence to show how it supports your
point. Reiterate the way this point connects back to and
supports your thesis.

5. Build your credibility (ethos) by showing you are
knowledgeable about conversations about the topic. Also,
include the credentials of those you cite in your text if they
have high credibility. For example: Dr. Jane Doe, a highly
respected neurobiologist at Harvard University, has established
“blah blah blah” (56).
Be sure to include transitions between supporting paragraphs.
Repeat key words from you concluding sentence of one
paragraph in the first sentence of your next paragraph. Use
transitional phrases like “in addition,” “in contrast,” “further,”
“another significant claim is…” “building on the previous
point,” etc.
In addition to using logos, find ways to appeal to your reader
emotionally (pathos). Use anecdotes about or testimonials from
individual people, use quotes from people that connect to the
reader on an emotional level, and consider incorporating
images.
Conclusion:
Include a one sentence summary of your argument. Go beyond
the summary and pose some questions that the essay brings up.
These questions do not directly have to relate to your topic but
should instead show the broader implications of your argument
or the kind of thinking your argument relies on. You don’t have
to answer these questions but they help the reader keep thinking

6. about the larger picture that starts with your essay but that the
essay helps move the reader beyond.