Academic Communications ACBE, ACSH & ACSC

Academic CommunicationsACBE, ACSH & ACSC Library research & annotations

Macquarie University library homepage: http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/ • Catalogue: http://voyager.mq.edu.au/vwebv/searchBasic • Data bases: http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/databases/ • Journals: http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/research/journal-finder.php • eReserve:http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/borrowing/ereserve.php MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Annotated Bibliography Annotations

A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic. • Bibliographies are sometimes called "references" or "works cited" depending on the style format you are using. • A bibliography usually just includes the bibliographic information (i.e., the author, title, publisher, etc.). • An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation. • Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes a summary and/or evaluation of each of the sources. Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011) What is an annotated Bibliography?

An annotation needs to start with the referencing details. • For example: Brick, J. (2006) Academic Culture: A student’s guide to studying at university. Macquarie University: Sydney *NB: You are all using a different version of referencing guides – • ACSH – APA referencing guide • ACBE – Harvard referencing guide • ACSC - Harvard referencing guide Annotations

Introduce the text by stating who the author is. Then, provide an overview of the purpose of the text. For example: Jean Brick, a lecturer in the Linguistics department at Macquarie University, has prepared this text book to assist undergraduate students in their transition to study at University. Also identified in this sentence are: • Type of text – text book • Audience – students • Reliability – authority has been established. Introductorysentence & audience

SUMMARISE: • What is the main focus/point of this book or article? • What is the scope of the topic or themes? • Limitations relating to the length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is. Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011) Summarise

For Example: The text includes topics that may help students read, write and study successfully at university, such as sources of academic knowledge, plagiarism, the 4S reading strategy and academic conventions (referencing). Summarise

REFLECT: After summarising a source reflect on whether the text is: • Auseful source. If so: • Why is it a useful source? • How will you use it in your research/assessment? Consider: • Was this source helpful to you? • How does it help you shape your argument? • How can you use this source in your research project? Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011) Reflect

For example: This text is particularly useful as the language is accessible and easily understood by the beginning student. Furthermore, ‘Academic Culture is a useful source for students to refer to when they require guidance regarding how to approach research and to assist them in accessing the skills and knowledge necessary when studying in an academic setting. Reflect

EVALUATE: Once you've summarised and reflected on the usefulness of a source, you need to evaluate it as an academic text. • Does it have any limitations? • Is the text reliable? Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011) Evaluate

For example:Whilst the text is an informative guide to study in the academic setting, a key limitation is the quality of appropriate examples to support student understanding of concepts discussed. Academic Culture was published in 2006 and the concepts presented in the text are applicable to current teaching and learning techniques. The text is objective as the author seeks only to inform the students audience by presenting study techniques, and academic reading and writing conventions. The author has not been transparent regarding sources of information, however support materials, in the form of student activities and examples, are referenced. Evaluate

Brick, J. (2006) Academic Culture: A student’s guide to studying at university. Macquarie University: Sydney. Jean Brick, a lecturer in the Linguistics department at Macquarie University, has prepared this text book to assist undergraduate students in their transition to study at University. The text includes topics that may help students read, write and study successfully at university, such as sources of academic knowledge, plagiarism, the 4S reading strategy and academic conventions (referencing) This text is particularly useful as the language is accessible and easily understood by the beginning student. Furthermore, ‘Academic Culture is a useful source for students to refer to when they require guidance regarding how to approach research and to assist them in accessing the skills and knowledge necessary when studying in an academic setting. Whilst the text is an informative guide to study in the academic setting, a key limitation is the quality of appropriate examples to support student understanding of concepts discussed. Academic Culture was published in 2006 and the concepts presented in the text are applicable to current teaching and learning techniques. The text is objective as the author seeks only to inform the students audience by presenting study techniques, and academic reading and writing conventions. The author has not been transparent regarding sources of information, however support materials, in the form of student activities and examples, are referenced. Completed Annotation

Purdue Online Writing Lab (2011) retrieved July 29, 2011 from: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/ References

Academic Communications ACBE, ACSH & ACSC