Annotated Bibliography Guidelines
Annotated Bibliography Guidelines
Annotated Bibliography Guidelines
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Bio 202L Fall 2013<br />
<strong>Annotated</strong> <strong>Bibliography</strong> (30 pts.)<br />
Due in your discussion class, Week 14 (Nov 18-22, 2013)<br />
**NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL COST YOU POINTS!!**<br />
Your bibliography topic is due to your TA by your lab of Week 7, (Sept 30-Oct 4, 2013). Turn<br />
in a typed sheet to your TA including your narrowed down topic and a 3-5 sentence paragraph about<br />
why the genetics topic you have chosen interests you. Make sure to include two properly cited<br />
journal articles and their abstracts that you plan on discussing in your paper. For proper journal<br />
citation refer to Appendix D in your lab manual – this can also be downloaded from the lab web site<br />
under “Writing Scientific Papers.” If you have not turned in a topic by Friday, Oct 4, 4pm your<br />
TA will assign one to you. Once your topic is approved by your TA, you may NOT change it<br />
(Topic changes will result in loss of points).<br />
• DO NOT plagiarize or cheat!!<br />
• Do not use the same topic as your current genetics presentation!!<br />
• Do not wait until the night before to begin your report!!<br />
o If you need help, go to the Reference Desk in the Centennial Library<br />
• Refer to A Short Guide to Writing about Biology, 7 th Edition, Pechenik (packaged with<br />
the Biology 201/202 Lab Manual) – reference page numbers will appear throughout these<br />
guidelines in the following format: SGWB pg. X<br />
Pick any topic in Genetics. For that topic, identify three (3) papers from the primary scientific<br />
literature. The assignment is to read these papers and present an annotated bibliography for each,<br />
followed by a summary.<br />
We have three goals in this writing assignment: (1) to insure that you are introduced to some basic<br />
concept in genetics at a more substantial level than that introduced in lecture, (2) that you are<br />
introduced (if you are not already) to the curious style in which scientists converse with one another<br />
professionally, and (3) that you are forced to write in a clear and concise manner following a<br />
standardized format.<br />
<strong>Guidelines</strong> for the <strong>Annotated</strong> <strong>Bibliography</strong><br />
1) Number of papers. Each student will submit an annotation for three (3) papers from the primary<br />
scientific literature (i.e., three separate annotations). At least 2 of the 3 papers MUST be<br />
published within the last five years.<br />
2) Subject area. All three papers should address a single topic in Genetics. The choice of the topic<br />
and the scientific papers is up to you; pick a topic (e.g., genetic diseases, genomics, DNA<br />
replication, control of protein synthesis, genetics of the immune response, etc.) that appeals to<br />
you. The papers must be peer-reviewed scientific literature!! If you are not sure if a journal is<br />
peer-reviewed, check with your TA or with a librarian!!<br />
Discuss the topic with the TA before you begin. If you are finding the choice difficult, the TA<br />
can suggest a chapter in the textbook to help you pick the topic.<br />
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Bio 202L Fall 2013<br />
3) Sources of papers. No more than two papers may be from the same author or the same journal.<br />
DO NOT USE chapters from textbooks, review or summary articles, books, popular magazines<br />
or internet sites (unless they are from an on-line scientific journal). The papers must come from<br />
the primary scientific literature. If you have questions about primary scientific literature, contact<br />
your TA or talk to a librarian. (http://elibrary.unm.edu/csel/) (SGWB pg. 21-35)<br />
NOTE: Review articles are articles that review a concept or technique; they do not describe an<br />
experiment performed by the author(s). Review articles will often provide you with excellent<br />
background information and are a good starting point for learning more about your chosen topic,<br />
but because they do not contain descriptions of original research by the author(s), they are not<br />
appropriate for this assignment.<br />
4) Contents of each annotation (max. 250 words each, without citation). For each paper, include the<br />
following:<br />
A. Full list of authors, full title and journal citation (year, journal name, volume, page numbers;<br />
you MUST follow the citation style used in your Lab Manual Appendix D: Literature Cited<br />
and/or “Writing Scientific Papers” – this can be downloaded from the lab web site). (SGWB<br />
pg. 71-81).<br />
• The article citations should not be included in the word count.<br />
B. Two or three sentences about why the author(s) did the study. This should include the main<br />
problem that identifies the general puzzle the paper attempts to solve (i.e., the broader<br />
relevance; note that sometimes the authors themselves may not even do this very well!). The<br />
goal here is to construct the opening sentences so the reader wants to read the rest of the<br />
annotation.<br />
C. Two to four sentences of background information required to understand the study's<br />
significance.<br />
D. Three to five sentences about the primary methods (NO LISTS!!) and results of the study.<br />
E. Two to three sentences summarizing the general conclusions of the study, including the<br />
answer to the question stated at the beginning.<br />
5) Summary of all 3 annotations (250 words max.). After the third annotation, include a two part<br />
summary that includes:<br />
A. Overall conclusion - an overview of the combined results of all three studies indicating why<br />
the general issue they address is important; this could include one or more key questions that<br />
remain to be answered (approx. 125 words).<br />
B. Your personal interest - what you personally thought was most interesting about the issue(s)<br />
addressed by the three papers (approx. 125 words).<br />
Both your 'overall conclusion' and your 'personal interests' should be well reasoned and carefully<br />
argued. The key to a carefully argued overall conclusion and a compelling statement of personal<br />
interest lies in a careful choice of the subject area and articles to be annotated.<br />
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Bio 202L Fall 2013<br />
6) Writing style. Refer to your lab manual Appendix C: Abstracts and <strong>Annotated</strong> Bibliographies<br />
and/or “Writing Scientific Papers” – this can be downloaded from the lab web site. The<br />
annotated bibliography should be written in your own words for a non-scientific audience (i.e., as<br />
if for a short note for the Science section of a newspaper, or if you were trying to explain it to<br />
your grandparents in a letter). Explain technical terms and acronyms in plain English if<br />
necessary. Make sure your paper is spellchecked and grammatically correct before turning it in.<br />
To avoid accusations of plagiarism, do not simply reword the author’s original words (i.e. no<br />
direct quotes!). Set aside the paper and restate the material entirely in your own words. (SGWB<br />
pg. 42-43)<br />
7) Length limit. Two (2) pages maximum; 12 pt. “Times” font, single spaced with 1” margins, one<br />
side of a page only.<br />
8) Word count. You must include a word count (use your word-processor!) at the end of each<br />
annotation and at the end of the summary section. Marks will be deducted if the word limits are<br />
exceeded.<br />
9) Final format. The final document should consist of three pages:<br />
Page 1: Cover page that includes: your name, your TA’s name, your discussion section number,<br />
the date, and the title of your topic.<br />
Page 2: Annotations #1 and #2.<br />
Page 3: Annotation #3 and overall summary.<br />
10) Photocopies of original abstracts & introduction. Submit with your report a photocopy of the<br />
abstract and the first page of the introduction (not the entire paper) for each of the 3 papers you<br />
used for your annotated bibliographies (you will lose points if these are not submitted).<br />
11) Recommended Grading Rubric (30 pts. total):<br />
ANNOTATED BIBIOGRAPHY MUST BE: (Automatic loss of 5pts if either not met)<br />
______ Over a topic in genetics<br />
______ Different from current genetics presentation topic<br />
EACH ANNOTATION (8pt. ea.):<br />
______Paper Comprehension<br />
a. A clear statement of the puzzle to be solved ____________<br />
b. Adequate background to understand the significance of the study ____________<br />
c. Summary of main methods and results ____________<br />
d. Summary of the main conclusions of the paper, including solution to the<br />
'puzzle' stated at the beginning<br />
____________<br />
______Followed format<br />
a. Correct citation format ____________<br />
b. Article is primary literature ____________<br />
c. Stayed within word count limit ____________<br />
d. Attached Abstract ____________<br />
e. Spelling and Grammar ____________<br />
SUMMARY (6pt.):<br />
______A concise summary of the overall conclusion from all three annotations<br />
______A clear statement of your own interests<br />
______Spelling and Grammar<br />
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