Part I: Annotated Bibliography
My topic is “Social Media Addiction”
Start with your research. Do not choose a thesis first. Do not choose a boring topic.
Gather and annotate 5 sources for your research paper. An annotated bibliography has the 4 parts.
Provide full bibliographic information, cited according to MLA standards
Summarize the text: What kind of document is this: is there an argument, or does it just report information? What is the main claim? What reasons support the argument? What kinds of evidence does it use?
Analyze the quality of this source: Is it thoroughly researched? Does it provide enough evidence? Is it accessible? Does it have a bibliography? Is it persuasive? Is it biased? Does the author have an agenda that you can see? How up-to-date is the information? Is it a classic or standard text in the field?
Evaluate how you will use the source in your paper and why: Does it present new information? Does it challenge what you already know from the book review or another source? Does it expand on something from the book you reviewed?
Each annotation should be about 300-400 words. Some sources will require more summary or analysis. However, each part of the annotation must appear for each source. I want to see critical engagement with the text. Do not answer every question I pose above. It will read like a check list and I will not believe that you have done any thinking.
The quality of the sources must be high; most of your sources should come from chapters from respected books on the subject or high quality journalism (publications such as The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Economist, Rolling Stone, or another respected source), or scholarly journals.
NOT ALLOWED: TEXTBOOKS, DICTIONARIES, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, DOCUMENTARY FILMS AND VIDEOS, AND WIKIPEDIA.
You may annotate a single chapter from a book, but not one chapter after another of the same book. You need a variety of sources.
If the only place you can find the information you require is from a website there has to be a good reason for it.
Requirements
4-6 pages
Perfect citation of sources according to MLA standards: single spaced, hanging line
Default margins, spacing, font and font size
“Annotated Bibliography: Your research topic”; your name, the date and Fratz: English 102.## appear on first page only
Your last name and the page number on every page
The writing style is direct and concise; flawless spelling, sentence structure and punctuation
Uploaded to Canvas
Research Paper
Using the sources gathered and evaluated in the Annotated Bibliography, your paper shows how the sources relate to each other, and what reading them together does for your understanding of the subject. This paper is not a report; the thesis either comes to thoughtful synthesis of the sources, answering a research question (exploratory essay), or it develops an argument around a claim.
Pay attention to how the sources relate to each other, if one builds on the ideas of the other source, or one source contradicts the claims of the other. You are comparing sources, but the paper is not merely a comparison: you are showing the evolution of your thought on a specific subject through research.
You must have a specific, arguable thesis that is supported by the sources you choose.
The introduction reflects the writing instruction: it has a common ground, problem statement, transitions from the general to the specific, and includes an identifiable thesis and clear roadmap of the issues you will explore.
Each paragraph reflects the writing instruction: it states the claim for that paragraph, provides evidence for the claim, and context for the evidence. Present it concisely, cite it properly, and analyze it so that it clearly shows how it supports your reason. End each paragraph linking the central idea to the thesis.
The conclusion reflects the writing instruction: it uses one of the strategies outlined in that lesson. It is your last opportunity to convince your reader that you have a valid point.
Write clear, concise prose. Rely on your logic to persuade your reader.
Requirements
1500 word minimum
Title, your name, Fratz: English 102, the date, on first page only
Your last name and the page number on every page
The writing style is direct, concise, and fairly formal. Flawless spelling, sentence structure and punctuation required
Parenthetical in-text citation (author ##).
Works cited page with perfect citation of sources according to MLA standards: presented alphabetically by author, single spaced, hanging line
Uploaded with to Canvas as .pdf or .docx
