When starting this class, I did not really understand what was meant by “annotated bibliography” and how this differed from “literature review.” I thought that annotated bibliography was just a list of references. After reading class materials, I know the purpose of annotated bibliography, which is to analyze the sources and relate them to your topic. Moreover, an annotated bibliography consists of a summary and evaluation of the source, helping an author to identify key points and findings. With such information, it is easier to write an argument and understand the topic better. I think I used to do “cherry picking” of sources as I focused on the support of my claims more than the critical analysis. Therefore, this week’s information about the annotated bibliography was useful for me in understanding the importance of the evaluation of sources used in research. However, I still have one question, which is, are there any effective methods to avoid biases in choosing the sources? I understand that everything is biased but still maybe there are some reading methods to improve my analytical and writing skills.
I chose Read, Reason, and Write by Dorothy Seyler (1983) as it provides a basis for how to write a decent paper with annotated bibliography. I think it is critical to use this book for better understanding due to its examples of how to write a paper that is advantageous over other sources. I am read it while taking this course and found it extremely useful. I am also taking notes about the art of writing and argumentation. I now understand the basic structure of the arguments and annotated bibliography, so I think I am now able to write a comprehensive essay on the topic of annotated bibliography.
Reference
Seyler, D. (1983). Read, Reason, and Write. McGraw-Hill Education.