Narrowed Topic Questions with Annotated Bibliography Example

To complete the Sophomore Exhibition you will need to locate at least six sources that help you better understand your topic. (If you cannot easily access multiple sources of information on the topic, choose another topic.) Encyclopedias of any kind will not count as a source for this assignment (NO WIKIPEDIA). However, encyclopedias are good portholes that may lead you to other, more in-depth, sources to use. Encyclopedias may also be used to check the reliability and/or credibility of other sources you find.

Entries: Include the following information for each source:               

1. Complete source information, in correct MLA format, as your source heading.

2. Concise summary of the central theme and/or scope of the book or source, which includes the causes, effects, and            important events of your topic.

3. Evaluate the authority or background of the author: Include one or more sentences that explains why this is a

    credible, reliable source.

4. Intended audience: Comment on who the article is written for. How do you know who the targeted audience is? 

Annotated Bibliography Example:

Dahl, Grant. Croatia in Depth. Gig Harbor, WA: Imgonnagetrich Publishing, 2009.

Croatia in Depth is a daily diary of the author’s experience living in Croatia as a foreign exchange student. It provides the reader with information about the climate, local customs and daily practices of the citizens and students of Dubrovnik. A comparison between school systems and their focus is the central framework. The author also includes interesting, and often hilarious, anecdotes about his struggle with a new language and how it impacted his host family. Tourist attractions, restaurants, and local sight seeing venues are also included, along with pricing guidelines. The chapters on historical locations and events was particularly interesting.

The author, a junior from a Washington high school, spent a year as a foreign exchange student in Croatia with a family of 6 in Dubrovnik. It is clear that the historical content of his book has been well researched, as it compares closely to the classic textbook, Eastern Europe: After the Fall.  The travel information is written from the standpoint of an American teenager, so bias is evident, and humorous, in the pieces that discuss communications problems. Overall, though the author is not an expert, it is obvious that his experiences are genuine and an authentic firsthand account of his experience in Croatia.

The intended audience of this diary is readers aged 15 thru adulthood. The sophisticated use of vocabulary and humor make it an enjoyable read, but too mature for younger audiences. The photographs in the center section give a good depiction of the local customs and attractions, but are insufficient for younger readers to understand the topic in much depth.

Narrowed Topic

You will need to narrow or specify your topic area. After doing some beginning research, use that information to complete the following questions.

1.       What is your general topic area?

2.       What date range does it cover?

3.       What are some important people, places, and things associated with your topic?

4. Did your topic have a positive or negative  impact as viewed through (3) social science perspectives. (geographic, cultural, economic, sociological, psychological, political)