Reference Assignment

Due: Thursday - February 3

During any research/writing project, you may need to use the reference section numerous times to get facts and information. This assignment is intended to introduce you to the types of information you are likely to find in the reference section. When you have specific questions about a topic, reference is often a great place to begin looking for answers. Put your citation and annotation in a WORD document and submit it by email, or print it and give it to your instructor.

Instructions:

1. State Your Topic as a Question or Thesis Statement:

Consider FACTS, BACKGROUND INFORMATION, STATISTICS and VOCABULARY that might be important for your topic.

2. Using the reference section of the SCCC Library, look for reference sources that...

• Provide some new or different facts about your topic.
• Provide relevant background information about your topic.
• Include statistics that might be useful.
• Define specialized vocabulary related to your topic.
• Offer information on a closely related topic, either broader or narrower, that you need to understand in order to research your topic. (For example: If you topic is the drug war and the media, you might need some information about how the media is regulated.)
• Answer other questions you have about your topic.

3. Turn in your topic statement and three (3) correct MLA citations and annotations for three different reference books.

• Select the best reference information you found.
• In your annotation, describe the book as a whole and the specific content that you found on your topic.

Do not include the encyclopedias you already used for your previous assignment. You may include one (1) online source, but you must include a statement that explains why it was better than print resources that are available.

Tip: You may find information in more than one subject area. Look over the LC Classification sheet to identify possible subject areas to browse.

This page is maintained by Francine Walls