Annotated Bibliography

Here are some suggestions for the Annotated Bibliography:

Later Due date:

We ask kids to do all of their research early in the year, then do experience and service afterwards. In order to make solid connections, they need to do additional research. Currently, they don't get credit for research done after their Annotated Bibliography, so they don't do it.

A later due date would encourage gradual research throughout the project, making the research more focused and valuable, connections more concrete.

Focused Research for Each Connection paper:

The Annotated Bibliography should be a growing revision assignment on turnitin.com. Each consecutive assignment adds two new research sources to the Ann. Bib. That way, students will only add sources that mean something to their papers.

Currently, many students just choose 6 sources "because they have to" and then complain that they can't make connections. This is like going to the grocery store, grabbing the first 6 things you see on the shelf and then wondering why you can't make a meal. We need to teach them to research with purpose. Start with a question, then find an answer to it. Each assignment needs to include 2 sources in the works cited, then they need to be added to the annotated bibliography. Perhaps annotations in the connection papers?

just thinking...