Question-Thesis/Annotated
Bibliography Assignment (15%):
You must decide on a topic and find sources
for your final assignment. First you must find a topic
you are interested in and then formulate questions you want
to answer. You must then turn the questions into a
thesis statement. Your final assignment is based on
your topic/thesis statement.
Question-Thesis: (Questions must be approved by me.) When
you send me your question-thesis statement, it must be as follows or I will not
accept it.
Two
sentences: question/s and thesis.
The
first sentence is the question that summarizes the problem the paper addresses
(e.g. How or why). The second sentence
summarizes your argument (thesis).
For
example: Question(s): Do you think that
the military innovations of the Hundred Years’ War constitute a military
revolution? Why or Why not?
Thesis
statement from question(s): The Hundred Years War introduced new weapon
systems, economic factors, and tactics,
which led to a military revolution, and transformed traditional armies.
Annotated Bibliography: You are also required to do an annotated
bibliography. Below is an explanation of
an annotated bibliography:
“An annotation is a summary and/or
evaluation.” Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes a summary
and/or evaluation of each of the sources. Depending on your project or the
assignment, your annotations may do one or more of the following. I just want you to briefly summarize the
article, book, etc. and state why you think this source will help you with your
argument.
If you need help with writing the annotated bibliography,
got to https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html and put in annotated bibliography. We will discuss annotated bibliographies in class. The Writing Center will give an in-class workshop
on MLA style, plagiarism early in the semester and a review on annotated
bibliographies.
You can access
journal articles and e-books for your paper from the JJ Library website. Since
the Library is open, you can actually get books. You are required to have a
minimum of three sources (you cannot use the books or articles we used for this
class) you must use outside sources. You can use Primary sources –documents
written by people who witnessed the event; peer reviewed journal articles (use
JJ library website to locate peer reviewed article). You can access books via goggle scholar located on the JJ Library
website only and. JJ Library has eBooks that can be accessed
electronically. If you want to use a web
site, I must approve it.
You will need a
minimum of three sources. One should be a primary source. You cannot use
any .coms, opinion pieces or book reviews.
JJ library has a good collection of eBooks and you have access to
numerous articles on the JJ website. I
also have some article that we will not
be using for class but might be helpful with your final assignment. They are
posted on BB under Course Material.
Mechanics for Topic/Thesis/Annotated Bibliography
Assignment:
·
Put
name, class and date on top of page. Include page number if it is more than one
page.
·
Put
question/s and then your thesis statement.
·
Next
comes your annotated bibliography. You
must use MLA style.
·
Separate
and label your primary and secondary sources
·
Alphabetized
your sources based on the last name of the primary author. Include full
citations for each source.
·
If
you are using on-line sources (these must be approved by me) your must include
full citations (author, title, journal name and web address) I will not accept
source that do not have full citations
How to begin your search: Your
first step is to find topic that interests you within the above time
frame. The best way to write a paper is
to produce a set of questions you want to answer. You cannot write a biography on
person!!!!! But if you choose a person
you can write on an aspect of their life. For example: Joan of Arc as a warrior
or why Joan of Arc became a saint.
You next step
is to go to the JJ library web page and click on find— databases—-“G” —-
Gale Virtual Reference Library. This is
a set of encyclopedias. Put in a key
word, words or a name and then search.
You will produce a few entries.
Read the entries. They are basic
information on your subject. You cannot
use encyclopedias as sources for your paper, BUT you can get basic information
on your subject in them. Also, at the end of the entry there is a list of
sources!!!
Important: If you need a review on MLA style visit OWL/Purdue (https://owl.purdue.edu/writinglab/the_writing_lab_at_purdue.html) and read over the guide for MLA
citations. I also posted a John Jay Library guide on MLA Citation on BB under
Information. You are responsible for
using proper methods of citation. It is your responsibility to make sure you
avoid plagiarism. You should view the plagiarism chart on BB under Course
Information If you have any questions,
email or text me.
