Let’s work step-by-step to finish the Reflective Annotated Bibliography (Project 2).

Use the internet or City Tech library’s online databases to find one reputable source that helps you respond to your research question. If you use City Tech library’s online databases, some useful databases are NexisUni, Academic Search Complete, and Opposing Viewpoints.

  • Remember that the first source you come across will not necessarily be the best one! You will have to look at multiple sources to find one that is truly useful for your specific question. 

Read your source carefully a couple of times and take notes. (Either take notes directly on the article or write down ideas and quotes from the text that you find compelling). Draft the entry for the Annotated Bibliography Project. This includes the following:

  • The MLA bibliographic citation
  • A summary of the source (approximately 1 paragraph). A summary should include the main idea of the source and a few main supporting points, examples, and a few important details.
  • A rhetorical analysis of the source (approximately 1 paragraph)
    • what is the tone?
    • What is the author’s intended audience and purpose (reason for writing)?
    • what genre is the source? Does the choice of genre make sense for the intended audience and for what the author wants to accomplish?
    • what are the author’s credentials? Why do you think the author and this content is credible?
    • How do you feel about the author’s writing style?
  • your reflection on that source (approximately 1 paragraph), which includes your opinion of what you’ve read. For example:
    • Do you agree or disagree with the text? Why or why not? Be specific! You can quote the text here.
    • What questions do you have about what the text is saying? What don’t you understand?
    • What other information do you need to look up to better understand this source?
    • If you could say something to this author, what would you say?
    • What does this document tell you about your research question?
  • a quotation that you might use from the source to represent its ideas
  • keywords that would tell someone what topics the source covers