ENG 123 7.1: On to Annotations

Today’s Plan:

• Research Annotations
• Writing Research Interviews
• Homework

Research Annotations

Between now and Monday, March 5th, I will ask you to read and write about 5 scholarly research articles. After reading these articles, you will do 2 things:

• Add the article (in alphabetical order and in APA format) to your Group Annotated Bibliography, including paragraph #1 (see below)
• Post the complete annotation of the article to Canvas [submit as text entry]

To review, a research annotation should have at least three paragraphs. It can have more. I expect annotations to reflect 30-45 minutes of writing time.

• Paragraph One: the first paragraph covers the purpose, findings, and recommendations of the article
• Paragraph Two: the second paragraph details the methods, including how many subjects were in the study, how subjects were found, the location of the study (if relevant), the length of the study, how data was analyzed/synthesized, and any other significant details
• Paragraph Three: the third paragraph does some thinking by connecting the article to other research (this thinking can compare or contrast). This is the hardest part, since unlike the other paragraphs you are called upon to invent material rather than simply summarize it. This is also the part that helps you begin to write the research paper

Also, as you write, be thinking about the kinds of research I identified during the proposal process, and about my idea that a research paper is often a narrative, a kind of play. For instance:

• Act One: there is a problem
• Act Two: other people who have tried to solve the problem
• Act Three: a brand new approach to solving the problem

Or:

• Act One: there is a problem
• Act Two: the is a mystery about what is causing the problem
• Act Three: One potential cause (and some folks who think this cause is wrong)
• Act Four: A second potential cause (and some folks who think this cause is wrong)
• Act Five: A third potential cause (and why I think this cause is right)

Or:

• Act One: scientists agree that there is a problem
• Act Two: but the public doesn’t seem to know about this problem
• Act Three: here’s where scientists have tried and failed to communicate the problem
• Act Four: wherein I, the writer, attempt to communicate the problem to some people and solicit their reactions
• Act Five: wherein I, the writer, make recommendations, based on Act four, for how we might better communicate the problem

Or:

• Act One: there is a problem
• Act Two: scientists have offered various suggestions for how to fix the problem
• Act Three: I, the writer, interview people and see if they know about / what they think about / why they (dis)like the potential solution
• Act Four: based on my research, I, the writer, suggest which of the suggestions reviewed in Act two are most likely to work

Ok, let me be clear about this: the list of outlines above is not exhaustive. You might end up writing a paper that looks different. But I hope this list helps you reflect, as you are researching, on how the material you are working with could be arranged. Invention and arrangement go hand in hand.

On March 2nd, you will provide me an individual annotated bibliography, formatted in APA format. The primary aim of this assignment is for me to check if you know how to format entries (margins, punctuation, capitalization, etc). This should simply be a copy and paste of work you have been doing all semester. The annotations on this final bibliography should contain at least three paragraphs each (the complete format outlined above).

• Annotated bibliographies with at least 5 entries will qualify for a C
• Annotated bibliographies with at least 7 entries will qualify for a B
• Annotated bibliographies with at least 9 entries will qualify for an A

9 entries should not be an issue for those of you who have kept up with the work this semester. If you have fallen behind, then this provides you an opportunity to catch up.

Writing Research Interviews

Let’s take a look at a few guides:

• Texas A&M
• Harvard
• From the lab blog on interviewing a scientist
• Poynter.org: Questions for a scientist
• Email interviews
• Email interview template

Homework

Get started on the first annotation, due Wednesday.