Annotated Bibliography Guidelines

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