Annotated Bibliography & Synthesis Letter
In this assignment, you are asked to identify an issue; search and locate sources of information on it by engaging in research; list quotes and paraphrases of prominent ideas; summarize each source; analyze the information critically; synthesize the information and your analyses; and put it all together in a well-organized reflective annotated bibliography and synthesis letter.
Imagine that you are invited to the show Science Friday on National Public Radio (NPR) as an expert on the issue you are investigating in this class. See this link about honeybees for an example of an expert sharing their synthesis of research. To be able to answer the interviewer’s questions (as Rachel Mallinger does in the example above) you will need to conduct your own research, which begins with this first assignment.
To begin the process, you’ll need to develop an awareness of the main scholarly research results and non-scholarly information surrounding the issue you choose to study. Once you identify a major issue that experts have been discussing and that you are motivated to explore, you are asked to engage in extensive research to understand the “conversation” that has been happening among scholars/experts on that issue. This will prepare you to write your research-based argument essay (Major Assignment #2) and contribute to the project goals for the group project (Major Assignment #3).
Assignment Goals
-
- Learn to analyze content critically
- Learn to draw connections between different ideas
- Be able to conduct research and identify relevant, reliable, and interesting information on a particular issue
- Be able to identify and use credible/reliable sources of information to answer research questions in preparation for a research-based argument paper
- Be able to conduct a rigorous rhetorical analysis
Assignment Components
This assignment contains two components: 1) an annotated bibliography 2) a synthesis letter. You are required to use Google Docs to complete and submit your assignment. All submissions will be posted to your own personal folder on the shared Google Drive. You can find the schedule for submission deadlines on the Course Website.
Annotated Bibliography: We will use an Annotated Bibliography to organize and analyze our research sources. You will need to find at least 4 sources to use for your essay. Use at least 1 scholarly source (at least one book chapter or one academic journal article) and 2 non-scholarly sources (news sources, government, commercial, and educational websites/reports). Your fourth entry must be either a video or audio source (for example: a video you find on YouTube, a podcast that you listen to, a news report that you watch and take notes about, etc.) Each of your bibliography entries must include the following:
-
-
- A reference entry using APA formatting (see below for more info about APA)
- A summary of the source (150 words)
- A reflection on the source (150 words)
- At least 1 paraphrased section/quote from the source
- You should also briefly explain (a few sentences) why you chose to paraphrase this (how will it help you write your essay or inform your research?) Feel free to write more to help you keep track of your thoughts to make writing the next paper even easier.
-
For more info about APA formatting please refer to the following:
-
-
- Use of only last names of authors and the year of publication for the source
- Don’t use source titles within summaries and responses
- Be sure to provide page numbers for paraphrases and quotes
- Use proper punctuation, 12-point size, Times New Roman or Arial font.
- Find how to cite the exact type of source you have in the Purdue OWL
- Read this blog post for more help.
-
Synthesis Letter: To help you in this process, answer the questions in this Analysis Guide for each of your sources to provide you with the information you need, (please do not submit this guide itself). Then, write a letter addressed to me with a rationale that answers the following questions/criteria:
-
- The first paragraph of your letter must contain the main idea or analysis (also known as thesis statement) of all your sources together and information in it must follow the same order of information in the rest of your letter.
- You must explicitly demonstrate your rhetorical analysis of the sources. This refers to your ability to connect the purpose(s) of each source, the audience(s) of each source, and the impact of tone, genre, and media/mode of communication on the purpose and audience of the sources. These constraints must be explicitly discussed.
- You must synthesize between ideas, explain various relationships between ideas within and across your sources (consequence, definition, solution, explanation, examples, cause, agreement, differences, etc). As you establish the relationships between sources, state what each source adds to the ‘conversation’ about the issue. Another way to think of this aspect is to ask yourself: how does each source communicate with the other? For example, one source provides more details than another on a particular issue, discusses the definition of an important concept, builds on the definition of the concept in another source, addresses the causes or consequences of your issue, approaches the same issue from a different perspective, or provides a solution to a problem raised in a different source.
- You must refer to ALL four sources in this letter so that you can explain the logical relationship between the ideas of each source.
- Include the synthesis letter at the top of your annotated bibliography.
- Your letter should be at least 500 words and use proper letter formatting. (single spaced, size 12 font, arial or times new roman)
Use this Student Sample as a guide to complete your assignment
Assignment Tasks & Deadlines: All due dates are also on the Course Schedule
-
- Draft 1: At least 2 entries completed (Due: 3/12)
- Draft 2: Revised first draft; all 4 entries completed (Due: 3/19)
- Final Draft: Synthesis Letter and Annotated Bibliography (Due: 3/26)
Grading (5 points each; 50 points total)
-
- All bibliography entries follow APA style guidelines
- All bibliography entries contain the minimum word count and all necessary components (summary, reflection, quote/paraphrase, reason for quote/paraphrase)
- You chose sources that are clearly and obviously relevant for your research project
- You organize your entries in a thematic/logical order
- You submit all drafts on time, in the correct folder, and with the correct title
- You complete the peer review tasks for your group members’ work
- You attend both revision conferences or make an alternative plan in the event that you cannot attend
- You make the necessary revisions to your drafts
- Your synthesis letter contains a main idea (thesis) and illustrates clear and logical connections between your sources
- Your synthesis letter is at least 500 words and follows proper letter formatting
Resources
Annotated Bibliography Student Sample
APA Formatting Guide: Purdue OWL
APA Quick Guide
Language for Reflective Annotated Bibliography
Analysis Guide
The CRAP Test (evaluating online sources)