Annotated Bibliography and Research Paper 2

Overall Assignment:  This assignment has two major assignments embedded in it: An Annotated Bibliography and the Paper 2 Assignment. Interestingly, you must choose your Paper Topic first, because the works in your Annotated Bibliography will be some of the foundational research for Paper 2.

Task 1 – Choose your topic (See Possible Topics below and on next page)

Task 2 – Research your topic and write up your Annotated Bibliography (Due Mon, March 15 – Directions on next page and Purdue OWL.)

Task 3 – Write Paper 2. (Due Mon, Apr 5 – Directions next page – 12pt, Times New Roman font)

POSSIBLE TOPICS ~ 4 in all; choose one. (No abortion, gun, or death penalty papers. No faith-based arguments.)

*The Big Decision

Evaluate an important choice/decision that you have made in your life. Support your decision/choice with data. (Do not get too personal because the entire class is your audience, and you may be asked to share or workshop your writing.) Some questions to journal about (use the same criteria as you used in answering the questions for entry one):

1. What was the decision/choice that needed to be made?
2. What were the issues/considerations/consequences involved?
3. What research has been done on others in the situation?
4. What academic sources might you use in your research?
5. Were other people affected by your decision? How?
6. Were other factors influencing your decision? What?
7. What were the steps that you went through to make your final choice/decision?
8. Do you feel you made the right/effective/best decision?
9. What are your criteria for determining this?

*Career Choice

Think about your current career choice. How much thought and research have your really put into it? Have you considered your own skill set, values, preferences, and aptitudes? The questions below will help you to think about your choice. In each answer, give as much detail/information as you can, including the people and places involved. The place(s) and times it happened, what your experience was, and what it means to you now. Make your details as vivid as possible, letting your audience (Dr. Zaice and your classmates) experience the event.

Some questions to brainstorm about:

1. What is your current career choice?
2. Describe your current skill set. Does this field work well with it or do you need to acquire new skills? What are they? Do you think that you will have an aptitude for this? What do you base this on?
3. How does your field meld with your personal values? Where might there be a conflict? Have you thought through how you will deal with this?
4. What about this field do you think you will enjoy and not enjoy? How will you deal with the latter?
5. What do you think that the work environment will be like? What will you enjoy and what will you find to be a challenge?
6. What experiences have you had in the past that give you a sense that this career/field of study is for you?
7. What do you think are the social issues/considerations inherent in the field?
8. Will other people be affected by your career choice? How?
9. Are there other factors influencing your choice? What?
10. What were the steps that you went through to make your final choice?
11. Do you feel you made the right/effective/best choice?  (One more question on next page.) =>
12. What are your criteria for determining this? How do you feel about your decision? Why do you feel this way? What is that feeling “telling you”?

*College or FMU Issues

Research an issue related to college or campus life that is of interest to you. Is there some cause that needs publicity? (Informative) Is there some problem that needs to be brought to people’s attention? (Problem argument) Is there some solution that you have come up with for a problem here at FMU or for fellow college students in general? (Proposal or solution argument).

*Controversial Issues in My Field of Study

Research an issue related to your field of study that you find interesting. Is there some issue that needs publicity? (Informative argument) Is there some problem that needs to be brought to people’s attention? (Problem argument) Is there some solution that you have come up with for a problem? (Problem-Solution argument)

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ~ Find 5+ Sources. For each source, provide the following entries:

Citation – Use MLA or APA

Summary – 1\2-page paragraph

Evaluation – 1/3 to ½ page paragraph

3 Useful Quotes – You find interesting or might use in your paper

For more explanation: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/index.html

(You may need to cut-and-paste)

See Sample AB (MLA and APA) entries: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.html    (You may need to cut-and-paste)

PAPER 2 ASSIGNMENT DETAILS ~ Use 5+ sources, including at least 3 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Write a 4-to 6-page research paper that states and supports a claim/thesis on your topic. You must take a stand on that issue, give context (literature review), provide reasons for your stand, and support those reasons with evidence. Because you are trying to persuade people to your point of view, you must address counterarguments and rebut them. (You do this by showing respect for alternate points-of-view and addressing their concerns.) Usually, this opposition gives you the opportunity to give another reason why your stand is so great. You may even provide a compromise position. You need to have enticing introductions and thought-provoking conclusions. You may use MLA or APA, whichever is most helpful to you. Font: 12pt Times New Roman. Final Paper Organization: Research Paper Keyhole

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Reminders: Components of a Good Essay

• Considers all elements of the rhetorical situation [Your Image (ethos), Audience, Message, and Purpose]

• Has a thesis or claim that is arguable, specific, and appropriate in scope for the essay.

• Supporting Paragraphs:
  1. Contain topic sentences that unify the paragraphs and relate directly to the thesis or claim.
  2. Use textual support efficiently and correctly, by introducing, citing, and analyzing textual support.

• Other Elements:
  1. Essay has a title that is interesting and actually relates to the paper.
  2. Introduction hooks the reader in and clearly introduces the topic and claim of the essay.
  3. Organization (logos) is logical (not random or haphazard).
  4. Conclusion adds new information or a new perspective (answering the question: What is next?)
  5. May or may not use pathos (emotional appeal)

• MLA or APA Formatting, 12pt, Times New Roman font

• No contractions (et: let’s, can’t, won’t, I’m, etc.) or “you” words. No slang.