Assignments for Portfolio 1 

Assignment #2: Annotated Bibliography Memorandum

Following the guidelines provided in the “How to Write an Annotated Bibliography” Handout, you will prepare 

an annotated bibliography (in memo format) of all the materials you have gathered for the I-Search research 

project, which we will complete at the end of the semester. This memo will have an (1) introduction, (2) four 

annotated entries, and (3) a brief conclusion. 

A proper bibliographic entry in MLA format should precede each annotated entry. Then, the annotated entry 

sentences following should include all the following for each entry: 

1. summary of the source’s thesis, main points, and purpose; 

2. the kinds of evidence/proof used to support the thesis (i.e., statistics, surveys, opinions) 

3. the audience (i.e., who the source is designed for)

4. a personal evaluation that includes: 

a. a statement about the type of source (i.e., a scholarly research article, an editorial from a 

professional magazine, a feature newspaper article, a chapter from a popular book, a U.S 

government website) 

b. a short evaluation of the authority (credibility) of the author to write about the topic, the quality 

of the source, the objectivity of the source 

c. a comparison of this with other sources you saw in your research? 

5. your own thoughts on why this is relevant for you in the context of your I-Search research paper and 

how you can / plan to use this source. 

Word Count: 2-3 full pages (approximately 200 words per entry/source for a total of 4 sources)

The Writing Process: 

1. Read the “Choosing Your I-Search Topic” Handout 

2. Complete the discussion forum where you post three potential topics for me to approve. 

3. Once one or more of your topics is approved, begin to find your research, which must include the following 

sources exactly: (1) one print or e-book, (2) two magazine/journal articles from College`s e-databases, 

& (3) one Internet source. Remember: even if you plan to write your I-Search project in groups of 2, this 

Annotated Bibliography memo still must be researched/written individually. 

4. Write your four annotated bibliography entries based on the 5 qualifications above, one entry per source for 

a total of four. 

5. Format your annotations into a memorandum (see sample memo online). 

6. Write an introduction that introduces the reader to your chosen topic/project and that describes the steps you 

took in your research process (as well as any problems you may have had, etc.). 

7. Write a conclusion that sums up your research and informs the reader of what you will do next, any 

concerns you have about the I-Search project to come, etc. 

Tips:

• Don’t confuse abstracts/summaries with annotations. An abstract is a purely descriptive summary. 

Annotations are descriptive and critical. 

• When creating the bibliographic MLA formatted entry at the start of each entry, be sure to cite the 

source based on the manner in which you found it. For example, even if the article was published first in 

a print magazine, if you located it through the College’s e-databases, you must cite it as an e-database 

article.