One component to our group project is individually compiled 1200 word annotated bibliographies. Having never produced an annotated bibliography before this seemed a daunting and extensive task. However, after researching I was able to find an effective system to approaching my chosen resources that meant I could quite easily summarise the texts purpose and importance into this space (though I could have easily written more). It is asking more than an analysis of the words within the text, and provoking you to ask questions such as:
Who is this text addressing?
How does it effectively use data and research to support its claims?
What are the limitations in the application of its theories?
And many more that I had never considered were crucial for a summary, rather I dismissed them as extra-currical thoughts.
A useful tool I found was UNSW’s walkthrough, designed to give fellow students an introduction and help them map out their annotated bibliographies. They follow an eight step principle:
(1) Citation
(2) Introduction
(3) Aims & Research methods
(4) Scope
(5) Usefulness
(6) Limitations
(7) Conclusions
(8) Reflection
This is a method that I have recently introduced in my blog posts (note from practical 7 onwards) that I feels give them a stronger substance and is a flexible layout that can be applied to films, readings and experiences. This method of thinking has enhanced my approach to many aspects of study, particularly in developing a rhetorical approach to history in my media and politics classes.