more gun control laws should be enacted

I need an annotated bibliography done

Argument: What is the main issue or problem addressed and how is it framed (what set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices inform its way of viewing reality/the problem)? What is the principal claim? If a primary source, what is your interpretation of the work’s meaning—its “argument” in literary/aesthetic form? Example: “Argument—Jones suggests that technology is distracting in the classroom.” Methodology: What kind of arguments and evidence are used to frame the issue and defend the principal claim? If a primary source, what are the strategies that the text uses to produce its

meaning? Example—Methodology: Jones provides three kinds of evidence including classroom observations, interviews with teachers, and . . .” Discipline/Lens: From what discipline or lens does this source arise—sociology, history, popular culture, etc.? Example—Discipline/Lens: The authors are anthropologists. This also means thinking about who the audience for the piece is, and what that might mean for the overall structure and persuasiveness of the argument being presented. Thinking about things like language and evidence used will help you to determine the lens that the author is coming from.

You will also want to pay attention to whether your source is employing certain theories, and whether or not those theories will be useful in your own research. For example, Critical Theory critiques society systems and structures, focusing on issues of power and privilege; while Rational Choice Theory asserts that individuals will weigh the costs and benefits of a given before making their choice. Evaluation: How reliable/valuable is this source? Who are the authors? In what fields are they experts? What is the source’s scope and level of specialization? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the case it makes? How do other sources you’ve discovered (if any) regard it and why? Example—Evaluation: “Jones is a professor of Anthropology at the University of Melbourne. His argument about technology in the classroom is a frequently cited study on one side of the debate…”

See the Stanford University Library video on evaluating sources here. Value to your project: How does this source support, challenge, or alter your initial thinking? What purpose might it serve in your research project? How might you use it? Example—Value: “This source enables me to establish …” or “This source provides a key term for…” or “This source is a valuable counter argument…”

*“Create your Annotations” adopted from Dr. Donna Hunter

4) Creating Intertextuality. The Madlibs Synthesis Activity is a fun and challenging way to begin to locate similarities and differences across the sources you’ve found so far. It will help you begin to put them in conversation with one another and locate your own place within this research conversation. You can use your Madlibs worksheet to aide in creating your research synthesis for the annotated bibliography. You will submit your Madlibs worksheet by 10/30.

If you have any questions, or are finding it difficult to locate sources, be sure to ask someone for help or email your instructor. Do not be afraid to collaborate with your peers (be they from this class or not). Often times, they may have experienced the same difficulties or can give you some thoughts on how/where to find the information you are seeking. Additionally, just talking with your peers can often “flesh out” thoughts that you may not have consciously thought of or didn’t see the merit in previously.