Please read these directions carefully as your guide to the only draft of this assignment.
Overview/Topic
For this assignment, which is basically TWO separate write-ups, you will evaluate two sources for use in your researched argument. There are many types of sources that you can use, but you must confirm (or find) the issue/topic you wish to write your researched argument on in order to best complete this assignment. In your researched argument paper, you may ultimately use any of the source texts you have already written about in this class, but you must add TWO NEW sources to your collection of sources (if any) for this assignment.
Topics for the researched argument are open choice; however, I strongly encourage that you pick a topic that relates to issues in your major field of study if you do not have a topic in mind.
For this short assignment, you will be writing an evaluative annotated bibliography for just two sources and assessing your sources against appropriate criteria or standards of judgment. The criteria you use will depend on the kind of source that you are evaluating and your reading of it; however, most sources will have some similar standards that they can be assessed by (learn the CRAP test from the embedded video!). However, you must keep in mind also what you think the source will do for your argument (or how you will use it).
Therefore, you must include an evaluation of the source’s relevance to your upcoming research project (in as far as you can tell at this point); simply mention what part or portions of the source you plan to use and how. You are not bound to use the source in your final paper, nor will you be required to use it in the manner in which you think you will right now, so you should consider this exercise as a “planning” document.
Here are some ways to think about the common attributes we evaluate sources against (watch the CRAP test videoLinks to an external site.):
Currency: Is this source the most current information available? Does that matter to your study?
Reliability: What/how many perspectives are included in source? In other words, how biased is the source, and what are the biases found? How do these leanings affect your interpretation of the piece at hand? Is the source text’s material corroborated elsewhere (in another source)?
Author: Credentials of the author/creator: What is the background ethos of originator of source? Credentials of the sponsor: Who helps to get this information or text out to public? Why?
Purpose: Why is this text in existence?
Steps
Start with a Works Cited entry for each source, each formatted with a hanging indentLinks to an external site.. To create each source’s Works Cited entry, you may follow the instructions in the Little Seagull’s or Norton Field Guide’s MLA section. If you prefer, you can consult the OWL At Purdue MLA Formatting and Style GuideLinks to an external site. for information on creating Work Cited entries. You may use any citation generator to start; I prefer Scribbr’s Citation GeneratorLinks to an external site.. Whichever citation creation method you use, be sure to cite sources following MLA 9th edition guidelines.
*NOTE: Alphabetize or order your Source Evaluations by first letter of the first piece of information for its Works Cited entry.
Next, under each Works Cited entry, summarize the source in 2 – 3 sentences. Tell what the source is and what it says or shows (using present tense signal verbs).
Then, for each entry, evaluate that source’s attributes, picking at least two criteria of judgment (e.g., credibility, biases, timeliness). You may explain why you have chosen those criteria to evaluate your sources against.
Finally, somewhere in each source’s write-up, state the relevance of this particular source to your overall research project. Even if you aren’t yet sure of your stance on the topic, say what you think this source will help you do for your reader or paper.
Think of your audience for this project as anyone else who is interested in your research topic. HINT: A good way to do this assignment is to find one source that espouses each side of an argument, but that is not required. Imagine other students who may wonder about using this source for their own papers. Give your readers enough information so that they can determine if the source is worth pursuing.
Outcome
You should begin assessing and assembling sources that will ultimately help you write a longer researched argument, so this assignment aims to collect TWO NEW sources for that final paper (if you already have any sources that will help in your researched argument). Now is a good time to locate at least one of the two academic articles you will ultimately need for your researched argument paper (by using the “Library Research Tools” link at left). NOTE: We will be going to the library instead of class on APRIL 1st.
Requirements
Your essay’s formatting should match this example paper Download match this example paper. As noted, begin with a Works Cited entry, double-spaced with a hanging indent for second and all subsequent lines. Then start your paragraph of evaluation right below, as you would any paragraph (indented one tab with left justified formatting to follow). Continue typing with normal double spacing, using 12-point font.
Here is another example; Download another example; again, use it only as a guide.
Your Exercise’s Evaluation:
This exercise’s evaluation relies on your doing a thorough job in meeting the above criteria and formatting requirements. Each source’s evaluative paragraph should be a minimum of 350 words. Each evaluative paragraph should be preceded by a good attempt at a Work Cited entry. This exercise is worth (seventy-five) 75 points. While there are no source type requirements for this project, remember that for your final researched argument, you will need at least two professional sources, such as professionally written database reports, longer, professional news pieces, journal articles, or a chapter from a book. You can also use videos, webpage articles, interviews, blog posts, essays, opinion pieces, government pamphlets, reference works, etc., for either/both assignments. Your final researched argument will ultimately need six (6) total sources.
