Unit Capstone (Research Option)
Preparing an Annotated Bibliography
& Paper Outline
Unit Summary
Critically reviewed and analyzed your research
results
 Determined which sources are key to your
report and argument
 Annotated sources for your annotated
bibliography
 Next week, you will finalize and submit your
annotated bibliography.You will also write and
submit your research paper outline.

Annotated Bibliography
●
List of citations to your sources. Each
citation has a brief description and
evaluation informing the read of the
relevance and accuracy and quality of the
sources cited.
Source: Owl at Purdue
Example:
Waite, L. J., Goldschneider, F. K., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and
the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults.
American Sociological Review, 51 (4), 541-554.
The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from
the National Longitudinal Surveys of young women and young mento test their
hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans,
and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They
find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were
fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before
marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about
families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant
gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living.
Source: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm

Another Example of Annotated Bibliography

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New
York: Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research,
Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an
individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress,
a maid in a cleaning service, and a Wal-Mart sales employee, the author
summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow
workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her
experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics
and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about
her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on
her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in
America. Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.
Help for you…
How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography
Provides explanations and preparation advice. Includes a sample entry for a
journal article.
www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill28.htm
Annotated Bibliography Example - Purdue OWL
The length of your annotation will depend on the assignment or on the
purpose of your annotated bibliography. ...
owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/02/
What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations
to books, articles, and documents.
 Each citation is followed by a brief (usually
about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative
paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the
annotation is to inform the reader of the
relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources
cited.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm
LOCATING SOURCES
If you are having trouble finding sources, try the Kaplan library
 Here are some sources that may help:
 Cornell Legal Institute, George Washington, Georgetown Law
Library, local law libraries, public policy organizations, Lexis,
Kaplan library, federal government websites, and here is an
exhaustive list of legal websites:
http://www.hg.org/commercial.html - Worldwide Legal Directory
(This link has been saved under Webliography)



Try the search engine, Google Scholar.
Resources cannot include Wikipedia or similar (Answers.com,
about.com) These are not scholarly sites nor legal in nature.
Writing Center
Highly recommend using the Writing Center!
● To get to the Writing Center, log in to KU Campus and
look on the right side of your screen. Go
to:�Academic Support� in bold blue letters to the
right. Underneath �Academic Support� click on the
link to the Writing Center.
 The Writing Center provides:
 Live tutoring
Question and Answer
Reference Library Help
Free Paper Review
●
Preparing an Outline
By now, you should have an idea of how
your paper will flow – so time to put it on
paper
 Your Outline will be a Blueprint or
Roadmap of how your paper will be
organized

Preparing an Outline
Figure out the most logical flow of
information and the best order for the
information to be in.
 There is always more than one way to do
this, so figure out what you like best.

Preparing an Outline

Put your subtopics with the key points
that support them, in words or short
phrases, into a list or diagram that shows
how they will flow from beginning to end.
Recap



Prepare your Annotated Bibliography and look ahead to
what is coming.
Next week you will begin the outline of your paper, so
you’ll need to have your sources.
You’ll want to be in good shape to begin your outline!
?
So What’s Next….

You will compose a research paper outline that will be
the basis for your entire paper.

To begin developing your outline, consider the key points that
caught your attention as you were researching the topic.
◦ What main ideas or themes arose as you reviewed the sources?
◦ Take those big ideas and see if you can organize them into a
cohesive structure that supports your project thesis.

There are additionally sources on the Course page to
provide assistance.
You will also be turning in your annotated bibliography

Questions?

Come to my office hours or send me an
email.