500 Part 1: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

November 2019A UW SSW Writing Center Workshop

Workshop Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Annotated Bibliography

III. Descriptive v. Critical

IV. Formatting Annotations

V. Types of Sources

DISCLAIMER: There might be slight variations in the assignment

guidelines based on your professor. Please refer to your syllabus for

your professor’s specific expectations.

Purpose: Understand the linkages between history and contemporary issues in social work

- Explore tensions and conflicts in social work profession

- What is our role as a social worker to address this today?

Analysis: Application of tension- What does this historical event mean for social

work practice? - How did this shape the field of social work as we

know it today? Length: FINAL assignment max 11.5 pages

Assignment Overview:The Big Picture

● Word of advice: ○ Do not attempt to connect your 501 topic to 500

in effort to do less work!○ Focus of 500 assignment is on historical analysis○ 501 Briefing is NOT historical

● How do I pick a topic? ○ Questions to ask yourself:

■ What is a major ‘hot issue’ in today’s society?■ Is there an issue of particular importance for

me? ■ Is there something historical that I’d

like to tie into social work?

Identifying Your Topic

Part 1: Introduction

● General overview of your paper

○ Describe historical topic of your choice

○ Provide general summary of reference topics

○ Serves as a “roadmap” for the reader

● Suggested length .5 pages

Part 2: Annotated Bibliography

● Purpose is to provide relevance, accuracy, & quality of sources cited

● Two major types of annotated bibs:1. Descriptive2. Analytical/Critical

● This assignment → analytical/critical○ Not simply a summary○ Can dedicate 1-2 sentences providing summary of

content, the rest is critical analysis○ Examines strengths & weaknesses

Part 3: Descriptive vs Critical

● Descriptive Annotations are intended to DESCRIBE a book or article

○ Information about who the author(s) of the work are and their credentials

○ Summary of the work’s main points, what it’s ABOUT

○ Explanation of what the book/article includes in terms of charts, images, tables, or other related content

○ Describes author’s main arguments and conclusions WITHOUT evaluating what the author says or concludes

Descriptive Annotation Example

Breeding evil. (2005, August 6). Economist, 376(8438), 9. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com

This editorial from the Economist describes the controversy surrounding video games and the effect they have on people who use them. The author points out that skepticism of new media have gone back to the time of the ancient Greeks, so this controversy surrounding video games is nothing new. The article also points out that most critics of gaming are people over 40 and it is an issue of generations not understanding one another, rather than of the games themselves. As the youth of today grow older, the controversy will die out, according to the author. The author of this article stresses the age factor over violence as the real reason for opposition to video games and stresses the good gaming has done in most areas of human life. This article is distinctive in exploring the controversy surrounding video games from a generational standpoint and is written for a general audience.

Part 3: Descriptive vs Critical● Critical Annotations not only summarizes the work, it

includes an EVALUATION, or analysis, of the work○ The strengths and weaknesses of the article,

book, or other source○ The usefulness of the source for the research

topic○ How the source compares to other books,

articles, etc. on the same topic

Critical Annotation ExampleBreeding evil. (2005, August 6). Economist, 376(8438), 9. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com

This editorial from the Economist describes the controversy surrounding video games and the effect they have on people who use them. The article points out that most critics of gaming are people over 40 and it is an issue of age not of the games themselves. While the author briefly mentions studies done around the issue of violence and gaming, he does not go into enough depth for the reader to truly know the range of studies that have actually been done in this area, other than to take his word that the research is unsatisfactory. The author of this article stresses the age factor over violence as the real reason for opposition to video games and stresses the good gaming has done in most areas of human life. This article is a good resource for those wanting to begin to explore the controversy surrounding video games. However, for anyone doing serious research, one should actually examine some of the research studies that have been done in this area rather than simply take the author's word that opposition to video games is simply due to an issue of generational divide.

Activity: Identify that style!

Davidson, H. E. (2002). Roles of the northern goddess. Routledge.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles

filled by the numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in

everyday life, including their roles in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts

like weaving, the household, and death. The author discusses relevant

archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and previous

research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs

of relevant artifacts.

Activity: Identify that style!London, H. (1982). Five myths of the television age. Television quarterly 10(1) 81-89.

Herbert London, the Dean of Journalism at New York University and author of several books and articles, explains how television contradicts five commonly believed ideas. He uses specific examples of events seen on television, such as the assassination of John Kennedy, to illustrate his points. His examples have been selected to contradict such phrases as: "seeing is believing"; "a picture is worth a thousand words"; and "satisfaction is its own reward." London uses logical arguments to support his ideas which are his personal opinion. However, he doesn't refer to any previous works on the topic or present any alternative perspectives. Additionally, given the historical landscape, it is clear how he is influenced by political events of the time.

Author: Linda Gordon

Title: “Social insurance and public assistance: the influence of gender on welfare thought in the United States, 1890-1935”

Journal: American Historical Review

Year: 1992

Part 4: Formatting Annotations

(Sample Annotation HUB 2018)

Part 4: Formatting Annotations

(Sample Annotation HUB 2018)

● Use an APA-formatted reference at the top● Indent annotation underneath

Part 5: Types of Sources

● Annotated bib requires 5-6 references total 1. Book (1-2 references)2. Primary sources (1-2)3. Secondary peer-reviewed articles (2-3)

● More thorough information UW Tacoma Library:○ Link to primary & secondary sources

● Primary Sources○ Documents created by a witness or participant of an event○ Original records created at time of event○ Includes: diaries, letters, interviews, oral histories, newspaper

articles, gov’t documents, etc.

● Secondary Sources○ Analyze, interpret, or summarize a topic/question○ Often referencing a primary source ○ Includes: bibliographies, books/articles on topic, news articles,

etc.● Peer-Reviewed Articles

○ “Articles are written by experts and are reviewed by several other experts in the field before the article is published in the journal in order to ensure the article's quality.”

Primary vs Secondary Sources

Is a book a primary or secondary

source?

What Do You Think?

● Remember: analyze don’t summarize!● Go deeper into the analysis - ask questions like why?

and so what?● Use your “tensions” as a starting point, but they do

not need to be directly included into each annotation

Additional General Information

Any Questions?

● APA Webinar (on our website)● Critical Reading Webinar (on our website)● UW Library● 500 Library Guide● Lynly Beard, SSW Librarian, lynly@uw.edu

ALL AVAILABLE WORKSHOP SLIDES AND PANOPTO WEBINAR RECORDINGS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: Click here.

Search for “UW SSW Writing Center”, click on “Workshops & Presentations “on right side

Other Resources

Writing Center Updates

We are here to support you!Spots for end-of-quarter are filling up fast. Plan ahead!

501 Part 2 Workshops:● Wed. November 6th from 9-10am, RM 305AB● Wed. November 6th from 2:30-3:30pm, RM 305AB

500 Part 2 Workshops:● Mon. November 25th from 5:30-6:30pm, RM 305AB● Mon. November 25th from 7-8pm, VIA WEBINAR● Wed. December 4th from 5-6pm, Room TBD