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English 102 / Tenenbaum
Group Project: Annotated Reading List and Group Presentation
Due Dates
Monday 3/10: Introduction to the assignment. Choose topics, form groups.
Wed 3/12: Meet in Library Classroom: research your topic
Fri 3/15: Research questions due.
Friday 3/21 11 a.m.: Annotated Bibliography Due.
Monday 3/24, 10:30 – 12:30: Group Presentations, Works Cited for Images, and Class Party
THE GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT: 130 POINTS
The research project has two components, the second of which has three elements:
1. The Annotated Bibliography
2. The Presentation—1) tell the class about your research, 2) show images to accompany this
presentation, and 3) turn in a works cited page for the images.
THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY—100 POINTS
Due Friday 3/21
Purpose: To educate yourself and the class about a current food issue, and come to a conclusion
about it. Your goal is to be able to recommend to your classmates a point of view and a course of
action. (For example, what should the official definition of “organic” be? Is there any action we
can take to help this recommended definition take effect? Or, is “healthy” junk food a good
thing? Should we eat it? Why or why not?
You’ll discover the various facts and points of view about the issue. You’ll look at who has these
varying points of view (For example, is it people who stand to gain a lot of money? Is it poor
people?) You want to find out as much as you can and come to an educated, supportable
conclusion: What’s your opinion on the issue? What course of action do you think should be
taken?
Requirements
 Six Sources focused on a specific food issue. These sources must be specifically
applicable to your research question, and they must be reliable. You will have to locate
and study many more than six sources to narrow down your bibliography to six useful,
focused, reliable sources.
 Kinds of sources: Of these six sources, only four may have been found on the open
internet. The other two should be scholarly sources. All sources should be reliable
according to the ABCD source evaluation questions (Author, Bias, Currency,
Documentation). It is possible, however, that some biased sources could be useful: For
example, if you are researching the question of whether and how patents should apply to
genetically modified seed, you might need to look at what Monsanto says about the
question. They are not necessarily a trustworthy source, since they profit from strict
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patent laws. However, to know what’s going on with the issue, you need to know what
their point of view is. Check with me if you are unsure whether your source is
appropriate.
Format: MLA.
Introduction: The annotated bibliography begins with an introduction of one or more
paragraphs (200 words); this introduction describes for the reader the subject, purpose,
and scope of the references that follow: In other words, the introduction explains what
research question this bibliography is seeking to answer.
Annotations: Each bibliographic entry is followed by a paragraph (no more than 200
words long), which 1) summarizes what the source says; 2) discusses its reliability; and
3) shows how that source contributes to your conclusions.
Conclusion: The entire bibliography is followed by a conclusion (200 words) that
explains the answers you found to your research question: Now that you have done this
research, what is your opinion on the issue and why? What action do you think should be
taken? This conclusion must clearly follow from your research findings.
Here is a sample Annotated Bibliography.
Grading of Annotated Bibliography
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Everyone in the group will receive the same grade.
Complete number, focus, and reliability of sources—20 points
Introduction (length, format, content as described above)—10 points
Annotations (length, format, content as described above)—30 points
MLA Citation Style—20 points
Concluding paragraph (length, format, content as described above)—10 points
Grammar and style (the introduction, annotations, and conclusion use standard academic
English, meaningful and efficient sentences, and are free of typos and other errors)—10
points
Suggestions for working in groups
I will set up Canvas groups in which you can share documents and information.
Divide up the labor of the project: Who will find the scholarly sources, who will write the
introduction, who will write the conclusion, who will find the images for the presentation, who
will write the works cited for images, who will write the annotations for each source, who will
proofread, who will hound group members to get their work in promptly, etc.
I will
THE PRESENTATION AND WORKS CITED FOR IMAGES--30 POINTS
Due dates: March 24, 10:30-12:30
The Works Cited page for your presentation images is due on the day you give your
presentation.
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What: This presentation gives your group a chance to tell the class the results of your
research, informing them about your topic, and perhaps urging them to action, if action is
needed. You will stand in the front of the room.
Images: Your talk will include some sort of visual component. This can be in physical or
electronic form. You could make a Powerpoint, poster, or collage. It can be something
you completely create yourself (drawing, painting, etc), or it can consist of pre-existing
physical or web images. All images must be copyright free. In our library guide, you’ll
find links for finding and citing copyright-free images. If your visual component is
electronic, please come with it ready on a flash drive to plug into the computer so that we
have a minimum of technical fussing.
Video: Your presentation may include a few minutes (no more than three) of video, and
that can be part of the visual component.
How long: Each group will have fifteen minutes.
Works Cited: Each group will turn in a works cited page for the images you show in
your talk.
Graphics help: Help with graphics and media work is available at the Student Media
Center.
Grading of the Presentation—30 points
 Everyone in the group receives the same grade.
 Your presence: All members of the group are present and attentive for everyone’s
presentation. You do not miss one second of anyone’s talk—5 points.
 Content: The group is prepared; the presentation is organized, getting across the main
points of the research; you’re clear about the pros and cons and about your conclusion;
the presentation includes copyright-free images of some kind; everyone in the group
speaks an equal amount—10 points.
 Time & audibility: The group begins promptly and keeps to the time limit. Everyone in
the room can hear you. Please speak loudly!—5 points.
 Works cited: The works cited page cites all the images in your presentation. Even if you
have changed the found images in some way, you must cite the original source. If you
have completely created the images yourself, you must still cite them, with yourself as
the author. This will be submitted online—10 points.