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Stephanie Macias

Kate Flom

WRD 104-231

13 February 2013

Emphasis on the Annotated

Winter quarter has now been in session for about six weeks. We are more than

halfway through the quarter. We have continued to cover more and more elements of

WRD. As a part of the writing process for our persuasive, research-based paper, we were

required to write an annotated bibliography for the sources we will use throughout our

papers. So far we have written an annotated bibliography for two scholarly sources and

one additional source.

Before this, I had not written an annotated bibliography. I had briefly heard

mention of them but I was not completely sure of what they consisted of. After receiving

instruction on the assignment, the expectations became clearer. For this assignment, we

had to write a research statement that included one to two paragraphs describing our issue

and our stance. We had to have read through and annotated three sources we had

selected. With having read and fully understood what was being said, we would then

write a paragraph summarizing the sources main points and another paragraph

explaining our reasoning for choosing that source and how we planned to use it in our

research papers. Like any other bibliography, we had to include the proper citations for

our sources.

Regardless of not having written an annotated bibliography before, I did not think

the process would be difficult. Similar to my experience with prcis, I found writing

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concise explanations far more difficult and time consuming than writing in full detail

about a text. Usually when I incorporate sources in papers, I read them but I do not

summarize them like I had to for the annotated bibliography. Summarizing the key

elements of the source was basically like writing a prcis, which I had previously found

difficult. I also found writing the research statement difficult. I am going to be writing a

long research paper so having to restrict myself to two short paragraphs was tough.

Especially because I had to get my point across in which I would explain my issue and its

context in a successful way.

Writing the annotations and now looking back on them, I do see why an annotated

bibliography would be an appropriate step in our writing process for our research papers.

Writing annotated bibliographies ensured we would read our sources thoroughly and

understands the key points. We explicitly had to refer to these main points in the

annotated bibliographies. This saves us time for when we actually have to write our

detailed research papers. Also, having to explain why I will use these certain sources will

strengthen my argument that I make in my research paper. Once I write annotations for

the rest of my sources, I will already have a foundation for my research paper.

Writing an annotated bibliography has related to some of the bullet points in the

FYW Programs Learning Outcomes. For example, in order to write a summary of my

issue, stance, and sources I have defined and focused on the purpose of my research

paper. Also, with having written an annotated bibliography I have found, analyzed and

synthesized primary and secondary sources.

Having been in WRD 104 for about six weeks now, there have been multiple

times that reflect my progress and further understanding of both annotated bibliographies

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and WRD goals. Despite the difficulties I experienced while writing annotations on my

sources, I understand the purpose of annotated bibliographies.