ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Senior Capstone Project

YOUR TASK:
1. Research your chosen leader/person of influence
2. Find appropriate resources to help in your biography project.
3. Complete the CARRDSS test rubric for ALL resources.
4. Find two credible sources that provide basic biographical information and two credible sources that
critique or provide an opinion about the person you’ve selected. This means you need more than just a
biography; you need articles that give an opinion about the person you’ve selected. Create an Annotated
Bibliography with a citation for each source in proper MLA format. (Link must be included).
5. Turn in each Annotated Bibliography to Turnitin.com BY: Annotation #1: February 4, Annotation #2:
February 11, Annotation #3: February 21, Annotation #4: March 9

First of all, what is a citation?

A citation provides the publishing information on your reputable article. It says where the article was published,
who wrote it, and a few other things we'll learn about in class. YOUR CITATIONS SHOULD BE IN PROPER
MLA FORMAT!

What is an annotation? An annotation is a short summary of the scholarly article; it may also include i a
critique of it. ALL of your annotations should follow the steps below.

Paragraph 1:
1st: include title of article/website and explain the type of source. Is it a website, historical source, primary
source document, article, or other type of information. If it is an opinion article, include the author’s thesis or
claim in this sentence.
2nd: Describe the type of evidence the author provides. Is it a primary source, written by close friends/family,
or is it a scholarly article that includes the work or opinions of other authors?
3rd: In a few sentences, explain or summarize what the resource is about.
4th: Evaluate the WHY - Why is this resource useful?. How can this essay/article/resource enhance your
project? What ideas does it spark? What information is usable? How does the information relate to you and
your values? Without this information, you can only receive ½ credit for this annotation. **VERY
IMPORTANT

Make sure your each annotation is a minimum of 150 - 250 words in length.

Here is an example of an entry for a simple biography website:

“Biography of Nelson Mandela.” Nelson Mandela Foundation, 29 Oct. 2014,

www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography.

The website, “Nelson Mandela Foundation”, includes a biography of the late president of South Africa,

Nelson Mandela, compiled by staff members who work for the Foundation. (2nd) This portion of the website is

simply a compilation of facts about Mandela’s life, including his background, childhood, education,

imprisonment, and political career. It includes many photographs, recordings, and documents, as well as links

to other websites where the reader can learn about relevant locations or events relevant to Mandela’s life along

with news articles about the man. (3rd) This foundation was started by Mandela himself, and, though this

particular page was updated after Mandela’s death, one can assume it is factually accurate since the subject
helped to create the resource. (4th) This resource provides a very comprehensive overview of the facts about

Mandela’s life. It will help me fill in the purely biographical details of my project. It also includes photos and

several quotes that might be useful in creating my poster project.

Sample annotation of opinion article:

Mda, Zakes. “The Contradictions of Mandela.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Dec. 2013,

www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/opinion/the-contradictions-of-

mandela.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article®ion.

In Zakes Mda’s article, “The Contradictions of Mandela”, the author shares his perspective of Nelson

Mandela as a much more complicated man than most of us in the West understand. Mda refers not only to the

opinions of others, but relies on his personal friendship, particularly in his early childhood, with Mandela. (2nd)

The author supports his claim that Mandela is, in essence, not a perfect man, by giving examples of the

contradictions between Mandela’s public and private life, his youth and his later years, and the differences

between Mandela and his successors. (3rd) The article is both praise of Mandela’s accomplishments, most

notably working with the last Apartheid president, DeKlerk, to bring about the end of the Apartheid system and

create a moderately peaceful transition to democracy, and it is a critique of Mandela’s blind-spots, particularly

his loyalty to those who were, in the author’s opinion, not deserving of his loyalty. The author connects some

of the struggles that were present in South Africa at the time of Mandela’s death in 2013 as he states: “But I

fear that, for Mandela, loyalty went too far. The corruption that we see today did not just suddenly erupt after

his term in office; it took root during his time.” (4th) This article helped give me a more complete understanding

of Mandela. I plan to illustrate contradictions and conflict when I create my biography project.
Annotated Bibliography Checklist TOTAL POINTS: /

Name _______________________________________________ Period ______

Check off each of the following criteria and staple to front of your annotated bibliography.

_______ All four (4) entries are published and verifiable reliable sources via
the CARRDSS rubrics. The CARRDSS rubrics are thoroughly completed and turned in on time!

_______ Entries are consecutively done without page breaks.

_______ Entries are NOT from textbooks, Wikipedia, or any other readings associated with this
course.

_______ The workable and active links to ALL sources are provided at the
end of each citation. 10% will be deducted for each link that is not provided or workable

______ ALL four tasks (see expectations) are addressed in your Annotated
Bibliography.

_______ The conclusion clearly evaluates “why” the research is valuable to your
project. How can this enhance your biography?
What ideas does it spark toward your project What information is
usable? You must identify the relevance of this research to your FINAL
PRODUCT. WITHOUT THIS “CONNECTION TO YOUR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE” INFORMATION,
YOU CAN ONLY RECEIVE 1⁄2 CREDIT FOR THIS ANNOTATION!

_______ Each written annotation is a minimum of 150 words to a maximum of 250

words, (which doesn't include the words in the citation.)

_______ The Bibliography follows ALL MLA citation rules.

_______ The Annotated Bibliography is uploaded to TIN.com on. (NO CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN FOR THIS
ASSIGNMENT UNLESS
UPLOADED) - Late = maximum of 50%

_______ Attached to this checklist on Monday, FEBRUARY 11 and handed in at the

beginning of class are the following: (1) Research Questions; (2) All CARRDSS Rubrics (a
minimum of five (5); (2) Peer Edit Forms

**PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DUE DATES. LATE TURNITIN OR HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS WILL COST
YOU WAY TOO MANY POINTS - A MINIMUM OF 50%!