Social Sciences
Annotated Bibliography
Objectives:
o Locate academic sources in the social sciences
o Evaluate academic sources
o Summarize and critique academic sources
o Review and practice APA style and documentation
Introduction:
An annotated bibliography allows a writer and/or researcher to view multiple perspectives on a common topic. The annotations verify a source’s relevance, accuracy, and overall use as a research tool.
The annotated bibliography contains three parts: (1) the citation, (2) the summary, and (3) the critique of the source.
Think of an annotated bibliography as a reference page with added notes. This means the sources on the annotated bibliography should be alphabetized. Below each citation entry, summarize and critique the source. The summary objectively presents the work’s main points, and the critique evaluates its use, its limitations, and its credibility. Structurally, the summary and critique are sometimes integrated into a single paragraph.
Assignment:
For this assignment you will created an annotated bibliography of two academic sources centered around your course theme. These sources must all be from the social sciences, so be sure to use the proper research methods and tools. Most likely you will need to use the library’s e-database to make sure you find credible, peer-reviewed sources from academic journals. The key is to assess the journal in which they are published; for example, if it’s from the Journal of Sociology, then it’s from the social sciences; however, if it’s from the Journal of Biology, it’s from the natural sciences.
The annotated bibliography (AB) will focus on the social sciences, so please use APA style. When annotating sources, consider the author’s expertise on the topic, the currency of the article, use of illustrations (such as charts), and how effectively the source highlights the research theme.
Requirements:
o Locate 2 academic online articles from the social sciences—no print books or journals, please, as I must have access to annotated sources; you also do not have adequate time to read entire books for annotation. Sources should
also be “recent,” nothing dated beyond 5 years ago.
o Compose APA citations preceding each annotation
o Write a short paragraph (75-100 words) that summarizes the article (none of your own analysis/opinion).
o Write a short paragraph (75-100 words) that assesses (or critiques) the article. Here, you will briefly evaluate the quality of the article and how it broadens your understanding of the topic. You will also discuss how it fits the discipline standards.
o Use APA style/documentation—including a cover sheet and running header
o Use Times New Roman, 12-point font
o Use Double-spacing
o Use academic third person (no first person “I” or second person “you,” please)
Note: You must do this for each article. Do not place each annotation on separate pages, however. Again, an annotated bibliography is a reference list with added notes.
Please use the provided APA style guide and/or use the “OWL at Purdue APA” search to format your APA style and citations.
