Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate competency in using the library for academic research and to compile a list (bibliography) in MLA format of potential sources you might use for your research essay. The research bibliography is a very common academic genre that demonstrates that you have conducted significant and in-depth research on your research question, and therefore are poised to write about it with credibility, accuracy, and precision.
Process
A good guideline for finding sources for an academic research essay is that you should closely evaluate in detail three times as many sources as you will end up using. For instance, for a biology lab report where you are required to use two scientific studies as support, you would closely evaluate six studies on your topic to decide which is the most relevant to your specific experiment. If you were writing an ethics position paper on climate change and you were required to use four peer-reviewed academic journal articles, you would need to closely evaluate twelve articles that address your central idea in order to decide which four would be most effective in your essay. This process of careful evaluation should be applied to any academic context where you are required to use primary and/or secondary sources to address a specific assignment or topic.
For our final assignment, an academic research essay, the potential sources you choose to evaluate closely should help you to advocate for the best “answer” to your research question(s). Depending on your topic and your academic context, choose the option below that will help you most effectively provide evidence for your research project. One option isn’t “better” or “easier” than the other–they simply serve different needs.
You will submit two things for this assignment:
A photo of yourself getting a book from the stacks in the library for your essay or using the library’s resources in the library to find sources for your essay. You may use the library at any campus location. Hours for the FSW libraries can be found here (Links to an external site.). If you do not live locally to any of FSW’s four campuses/sites, you may make alternative arrangements with your professor to demonstrate your knowledge and use of the FSW libraries.
A list (bibliography) in MLA format of the potential sources for your essay. The list should follow option A or option B below.
Option A Option B
2 books or ebooks
2 Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal
Articles
2 additional sources of your choice
2 Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal Articles
2 sources from .gov, .edu, or .org (government, education, or organization) websites or publications
2 additional sources of your choice
For this option,
you will include
6potential sources on your
Research Bibliography.
For the research essay, you will
narrow it down to a minimum
of one book, one peer-reviewed
journal article, and one
additional source of your
choice (can be another book,
journal article, website,
personal interview, etc.).
For this option, you will include 6potential sources on your Research Bibliography. For the research essay, you will narrow it down to one peer-reviewed academic journal article, one source from a .gov, .edu, or .org website/publication, and one additional source of your choice (can be another book, journal article, website, personal interview, etc.).
Student Example: Research Bibliography
Assignment Rubric
A Research Bibliography that “Achieves Excellence” will be distinguished in the following criteria: (*Note: 50% of the grade for this assignment is correct MLA formatting for the document and for your citations.)
The writer includes the correct number of potential sources in the Research Bibliography.
The writer’s potential sources match either Option A or Option B.
The writer’s bibliography adheres to the MLA format for the citations and the format of the entire document. **You should use your Norton Little Seagull Handbook.
The writer’s bibliography conforms to the topic and scope he or she identified in the research topic proposal.
The writer’s sources clearly relate to the research topic and question(s).
The writer’s research bibliography clearly illustrates his or her understanding of academic context.
The writer submits a photo of him or herself in the library stacks checking out a book for his or her research essay or using the library’s other resources in the library to find sources for his or her research essay.
Rubric
Research Bibliography
Research Bibliography
CriteriaRatingsPts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer includes the correct number of potential sources in the Research Bibliography.
5 pts Meets Expectations
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations 5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer’s potential sources match either Option A or Option B.
5 pts Meets Expectations 0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations 5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer’s bibliography adheres to MLA style. 35 pts Achieves Excellence
28 pts Meets or Exceeds Expectations
21 pts Needs Work
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations
35 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer demonstrates that his or her selection of potential sources shows careful thought about how best to address his or her research question(s).
10 pts Meets Expectations
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations
10 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer has chosen sources that conform to the topic and scope he or she identified in the Research Topic Proposal.
5 pts Meets Expectations
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations
5 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer submits a photo of him or herself in the library stacks checking out a book for his or her research essay or using the library’s other resources in the library to find sources for his or her research essay.
10 pts Meets Expectations
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations
10 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe writer’s research bibliography clearly illustrates his or her understanding of academic context.
5 pts Meets Expectations
0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations
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