Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8

Step 1.

Thesis Statement, Outline, and Annotated Bibliography

Overview

classroom In this assignment, you will write a thesis, an annotated bibliography to support the thesis, and an outline of your research paper. You will turn in a single PDF of your written work.

An Accessible PDF of Mastery Assignment 1

Step 1: Choosing a Topic

This course will contain three mastery assignments that will each allow you to build up to a full research paper. In this assignment you will choose one topic that you will use throughout all three mastery assignments. In this Mastery Assignment, you will write a thesis statement, an annotated bibliography and an outline about your selected topic. This research paper will be over a topic of your choice from the course content below:

Analyze the impact of the Great Black Migration that took place between 1916-1970 on American culture.
Compare and contrast American culture, both social and economic, after World War I and after World War II.
Compare and contrast the American reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Please choose which topic you prefer now, as this is the topic you will be focusing on for every mastery assignment in this course. Each mastery assignment will guide you through the various stages of the writing process. This first assignment will focus on the prewriting stage, where you will write an annotated bibliography, an outline, and a thesis statement.

Step 2.

Step 2: Creating a Thesis Statement

The first step to writing a research paper is coming up with a strong thesis statement. This thesis statement will be the focus of your paper and will convey what you ultimately want your reader to know. What point do you want to make in your paper? What argument are you trying to present to your reader?

A thesis statement is a strong, direct statement that identifies what your paper is about and what message you want readers to take away from your writing. Choose a strong topic and supportive claims to give clear direction for the paper and Mastery Assignments, as you’ll want to stick within the topic identified in your thesis statement and avoid jumping too far outside of your topic. Once you have your thesis statement, you are ready to complete this assignment.

Click here for information about writing a thesis statement.

Writing Resource

The Writing Resource is a reference for academic writing in this course. Refer to this source before submitting a final copy of a writing assignment.

Step 3.

Step 3: Annotated Bibliography

In this step, you will create an annotated bibliography for your paper. For this portion of the assignment, you will create and submit the annotated bibliography to support the thesis of your research paper. In addition, identify each source as a primary or secondary source, and show how they relate to the chosen topic and thesis. The goal of an annotated bibliography is to provide a list of primary and secondary resources that support your thesis.

A primary resource is one that provides direct evidence or information. This might include interview transcripts, statistical data, or another means of supplying direct information.

A secondary resource is one that does not supply direct evidence but rather relies on “hear-say”, such as second-hand information or simple commentary on something for which the author/interviewer was not a part of.

Click here for additional information about primary and secondary sources.

The annotations should be clear and well-developed. The reader should be able to identify from the summary of the source how the source links to your thesis. An annotation aims to summarize the source and connect the information to your thesis statement. Each entry must be at least 5- 7 sentences long.
Click here for more information about writing an annotated bibliography.

The grammar and vocabulary should communicate meaning to the reader with clarity and should be appropriate for academic writing. Please double check for grammar or spelling errors.

You must have a minimum of five sources for this assignment and use scholarly research to support your thesis.

Read below to see an annotated bibliography example.

Here is an example of an annotated bibliography. Structure your annotated bibliography using this format.

Date paper was submitted (month day, year)

Composition Title

Weinberg, Gerhard L. A World at Arms. New York: Cambridge, 2005.

[1] This is a secondary source of Weinberg’s analysis of the social and economic climates of Eastern Europe through public records and documents. In this book, Weinberg discusses the major events and causes of World War II, focusing on the world climate after World War I leading to the start of World War II. This source will help support my thesis that World War II started long before Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, by providing a context of the social, economic, and political challenges facing Eastern Europe post-World War I.

Step 4.

Step 4: Length and Formatting

You must use the MLA Style notes-bibliography system. Each citation should have a 125-200 word descriptive and evaluative paragraph and should do the following:

Include the source in MLA format.
Identify the source as primary or secondary.
Summarize the source’s information.
Explain how the source relates to your topic.
Explain how the source relates to your thesis.

Other Considerations:

Use scholarly sources.
Make sure the sources support your thesis.
Stay on topic.
Summarize the theme of the source.
Do not give a book report, but rather a short summary of the source.

Step 5.

Step 5: Creating an Outline

For this portion of the assignment, you will create and submit an outline for your research paper. The goal of this outline is to organize your thoughts and determine the best approach to writing your research paper. You have already completed your annotated bibliography, so be sure to include the sources you found in order to assist you in this assignment. Remember that everything in your outline should relate to your thesis statement. This outline should be written in full sentences with evidence from your sources and correctly cited using the notes-bibliography system. This will allow you to practice using the system before your draft and final paper.

When writing your outline, use this format, be sure to include your thesis statement as “point C” in your introduction.

Example Outline Format:
I. Introduction
A. Opening statement
B. Narrowing statement
C. Thesis statement
II. Major Point
A. Support major point
1. Supporting evidence (source)
a) Evidence (source)
b) More evidence (source)
2. Supporting evidence (source)
B. Support major point
1. Supporting evidence (source)
2. Supporting evidence (source)
III. Major Point
A. Support major point
1. Supporting evidence
2. Supporting evidence (source)
3. Supporting evidence (source)
B. Support major point
1. Supporting evidence (source)
IV. Major Point
A. Support major point
1. Supporting evidence (source)
2. Supporting evidence (source)
V. Conclusion
A. Opening statement/restate thesis
B. Summary of research
C. Final statement

Other Considerations:

Use full sentences.
Make sure that each item focuses on the thesis.
Use the notes-bibliography system.
You don't need to write an essay, only sentences to complete your outline.
Use past tense.
Avoid first and second person.

Click here for information about writing an effective outline.

Step 6.

Step 6: Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation is an important skill to learn in your everyday life. In every assignment you do, be it for this course or any other, you should be self-evaluating your work. Some tips for self-evaluation include using the criteria of the assignment, looking at things from another perspective, and using your resources appropriately.

Using the Criteria of the Assignment

The first and easiest way to evaluate your work is to use the criteria of the assignment. Any assignment will have some type of criteria, usually in the form of an assignment description or instructions, and many will have a rubric. In this course, you have a rubric that will be used for the evaluation of your assignment.

Self-Evaluation Tip 1: Print out the rubric

Read through your assignment carefully
Grade yourself using the rubric. Be harsh about your grading. It will help to improve your writing.

Another way to evaluate your work is to look through the assignment instructions. Often, assignments will have detailed instructions to help you create something that is equal to the expectations of your instructor. This is also true for work that is given to you in the workplace. An employer will often give you an employee handbook, a training document, or verbal instructions. It is your job to review your work prior to letting an expert, whether that’s a teacher or a supervisor, see what you’ve done.

Self-Evaluation Tip 2: Create a Checklist

Generate a checklist of requirements based on the rubrics, mastery assignment directions and previous feedback from your instructor, if applicable.
Check your assignment to make sure all points and requirements have been met.

Looking at Things from Another Perspective

The second way to evaluate your work is to look at your work from another perspective. If you’ve already graded your work from a rubric or an assignment checklist, take a look at the sections that are “arguable.” These refer to the parts of your assignment that someone could argue are missing or underdeveloped based on the requirements of the assignment. Can you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and think of reasons why your assignment doesn’t match the criteria?

Self-Evaluation Tip 3: Ask someone else to grade your writing

Give the other person a copy of the rubric and your assignment.
Ask them to grade your work and provide feedback on why they graded it the way they did.
Make adjustments to your writing based on their feedback.

Using Your Resources Appropriately

Lastly, use your resources appropriately. Sometimes, using your resources to check your work might be something like working a math problem backwards, or checking that all of your sources in an essay are credible. If you are unsure about how you should format your assignment, do a little research to see if there are examples online or in another section of your course.

Self-Evaluation Tip 4: Use your Resources

Use the information to make sure your citations are correct.

Step 7.

Step 7: Turning in the Assignment

This submission will be graded according to the rubric; therefore, double-check that you have followed all of the assignment instructions and that the correct assignment is attached. You are expected to turn in a completed assignment. If an assignment is blank or incorrectly linked, this may result in a significant penalty or a zero on your assignment.

Do not submit multiple documents. If turning in multiple things for this assignment, please put them in a single document and label the items appropriately. Download the document as a PDF and submit the PDF.

Use a word processor (such as a Google Doc) to create all written work.

Cite your sources according to the appropriate writing formats required in this course.

Step 8.

Finding References and Citing Sources

Consider that there might be certain parts of your arguments that aren’t true or that require additional information to support your claim, or that there’s an argument that you haven’t yet considered. While you can use common search engines such as Google, you are better off using search engines that are made for academic purposes. This will help you filter out unhelpful articles and websites.

Note: You are not limited to using these specific sources; please understand it is a requirement to use scholarly and reputable sources.

Here is a list of search engines for academic purposes or databases that are open resources:

Google Scholar - Google Scholar
Google Scholar searches through scholarly articles, journals, books, and other academic publications and databases.
Google Scholar search tips - Google Scholar
RefSeek* - RefSeek
This site searches the web, focusing on educational and organizational sites as well as academic publications and books. It weeds out results from businesses and commercial webpages.
RefSeek search tips - RefSeek
Educational Resources Information Center - Educational Resources Information Center
ERIC is an online database, focusing on education-related research.
ERIC search tips - ERIC
Bielefeld Academic Search Engine - Bielfeld Academic Search Engine
BASE searches a specific set of academic websites and resources, including academic libraries and academic journals.
BASE search tips - BASE
Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ Academic Journals
DOAJ searches one of the largest collections of open access academic journals.

Click here for information on identifying reputable sources.

Citing Sources

Anything paraphrased or quoted needs citations, usually in the text and in the references or works cited page. Anything you include that is not your original idea must be cited.

Helpful Sites: