Research Proposal Assignment
Nathaniel Meals
GSW 1120
14 March 2018
Research Proposal Assignment:
Some helpful hints on the annotated bibliography
When composing entries for your annotated bibliography, consider the following:
evaluate authority or background of author
comment on intended audience
compare or contrast this work w/ a previously cited entry
explain how this source sheds light on your research topic
Additionally, there are two possible analytical approaches you can follow as you detail the specifics of a given source:
Informative Approach
present thesis
neutral summary/synopsis of source
outline the main arguments used to defend thesis
highlight any controversial/exceptional evidence
state conclusion
Evaluative Approach
present thesis
assess source’s strengths/weaknesses
explain why this source is interesting to you or helpful
list what kind of and how much information is provided
evaluate usefulness: How do you anticipate this source contributing to your research paper?
These approaches need not be mutually exclusive. I recommend blending the informative and evaluative. Begin with the informative. Objectively explain the source’s thesis. Then summarize the source, paying special attention to its main arguments. Following this, transition into an evaluative examination in which you assess the source’s strengths and weaknesses, using specific information to verify your assessment. Finally, consider the source’s overall helpfulness and usefulness to your research project.Sample Annotated Bib. Entry:
Larson, N., Hannan, P. J., Fulkerson, J. A., Laska, M. N., Eisenberg, M. E., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2014). Secular trends in fast-food restaurant use among adolescents and maternal caregivers from 1999 to 2010. American journal of public health, 104(5), 62-69.
Within this article, the authors researched the effects that fast food and food made outside of the home can be traced to increased weight as well as poor nutrition. They also found by families eating together, the adolescents within the family tend to have healthier lifestyles. This research fits with the idea of my research topic as Americans are becoming more reliant of fast food with larger portion sizes rather than home cooked meals with smaller portion sizes, which is an important aspect to Europeans. This will support the argument that smaller portion sizes are beneficial.
