Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography IPURPOSETo become familiar with a particular topic or area of study in an objective mannerTo help think about the scope, relevance and quality of the materials available on a specific topicPURPOSETo point out the merits and deficienciesi.e., the value and the limitationsof the researches done till nowTo help guide and reduce the work that needs to be done by future researchers

Skills RequiredCritical reading skills

Critical thinking skills

Writing skills

RESEARCHINGAnnotated Bibliography IIRESEARCHINGIdentify the Topic of Interesta)formulate a question on the topic to see if it is of interestb) note the key words/concepts in the questionTest the Topic by looking up the topic in the appropriate background sources, like a library catalogue and periodical indexesNOTEToo much information means topic needs to be narrowed (use and between key words in the search)

Too little info means the topic needs to be broadened

Finding Background information ILook up keywords in encyclopaedias and dictionaries from the print and online reference collection Read the articles and note the bibliographical information of interest, which appears at the end of the articlesgood starting point for the researchFinding Background information IIAdditional background information may be found in the lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readingsDo the same with books and media found in the library catalogue(s) and with articles found in periodical indexesINTERNET (a great lesson at UC Berkeley site: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html)

Critically Analyzing Information Sources IExamine the bibliographical info, which has a written description of the materialthe author, title, and publication informationand do an initial appraisalCheck the credentials of the author(s)has expertise on the subject, with whom s/he is affiliated and whether this affiliation poses a conflict of interestCritically Analyzing Information Sources IICheck the date of the publication and edition for relevanceCheck the publisher information to see if it is scholarly (a university press does not guarantee quality, but is a good source)Note: a scholarly work will always have been peer-reviewedCRITICAL ANALYSIS IScan and read only parts of relevanceNote who the audience is, and see if it is relevant to youExamine the content to see if information presented is fact, opinion (interpretation of facts) or propagandaNote if the information is well-researched and supported by evidenceCRITICAL ANALYSIS IIIf the writer deviates from what other experts in the field say, pay careful attention and read more criticallyNote whether the work updates other sources, corroborates other materials, or adds new information

SOURCEShttp://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill1.htm http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/topic.htmlhttp://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/background.htmlhttp://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill20.htmlhttp://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill26.htmhttp://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/biographytitles.html

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ANNOTATIONAnnotated Bibliography IIICritical AnnotationsFull sentences are used

Full bibliographic (APA) information for the work is provided in an alphabetical orderCritical AnnotationsIn one paragraph, provide a summary of the work (2-3 sentences; 40-60 words)In the next 1-2 paragraphs, provide a concise, objective evaluation of a work's contents, audience, quality, biases and limitations (typically between 100300 words)In the last paragraph, make connections or offer reflections

ParaphrasingIt is a tool used in summarizing, but is not a summary writing itself. It is shorterThe aim is to re-present the information and concept in different wordsNot always shorter than the originalIt is a part of the work, not the whole

Things to NoteProvide source information (page/paragraph #)Avoid stringing together more than 3 words from the original (Plagiarism)Avoid looking at the original when paraphrasing

ExampleWith few exceptions, nurse theorists have not elaborated upon the concept of environment, even though it is a central element in the nursing paradigm (person, health, nursing, and environment). (Chopprian, 1986, p. 39)

SampleAlthough environment is the most important part of the nursing paradigmwhich looks at the person, the health of the patient, the practice of nursing, and the environmentnot many have discussed the environment in any detail. (Chopoorian, 1986)

SummarizingUse paraphrasing skills, as well as mapping/outlining skillsThe aim is to re-write a part or all of the original in a significantly shortened formAim for clarity, conciseness and use of your own words

TIPSRead the article and draft up the outline: thesis and main pointsIdentify the title and the writer of the article in the first sentence of the summaryIdentify the topic sentences throughout the article and use only the most important pointsDo not provide supporting details of the main pointsWrite the summary(Lovrick, 2007, p. 42)

QuotationIf the passage has less than 40 words, use quotation marksproper indentation, but no quotation marks, if the passage has more than 40 wordsAvoid too many quotations, and avoid stringing quotations together; need to show mastery of the material through paraphrasing/summarizing

Use quotation only whenReally need the support from an authority Need to back up the interpretation of a passage (paraphrasing and/or summarizing)Need to show exactly what someone else has said (to show how different your view is)Want to show (or cant match) the power/elegance/beauty of the original (Reinking, 2010, p. 414)

ReferencesChopoorian, T. J. (1986). Reconceptualizing theenvironment. In P. Moccia (Ed.), New approaches to theory development (pp. 39-54), New York: NLNLoverick, P. (2007). Focus on College Readingand Writing. Toronto: Thomson/NelsonReinking, J., von der Osten, R., Cairns, S. A., &Fleming, R. (2010). Strategies for successful writing. 4th Can. ed. Toronto: Pearson