Process Analysis Essay Sample

In the research process, it is quite common for students to assemble annotated bibliographies. The nature of annotated bibliographies is exploratory since writes are able to organize their sources and thoughts about a topic and determine in what direction they want their research to progress. An annotated bibliography is just like a regular bibliography, i.e. students assemble a list of sources in a particular citation style, but each entry comprises of two parts: (a). The citation, in which the exact information is provided in the APA, MLA or any other format determined by the instruction, and (b). An annotation, which is a brief paragraph about each entry.
First, before an annotated bibliography can be assembled, the sources that are intended to be used for the research must be located. It should be made sure that the particular guidelines of the instructor are followed by each source and that they are related to the topic. At times, only scholarly sources are considered acceptable.
The first part of assembling an annotated bibliography involves a physical evaluation of the source, followed by an evaluation of each source's content. Initially, the credentials of the authors have to be examined, which includes how knowledgeable the author is in the particular area. The date of the publication has to be examined to determine whether information contained in it is reliable, and in most cases, it must also be determined whether the source is a scholarly source, by reviewing the publisher and/or title. Next, the content evaluation involves reviewing the foreword, introduction or preface of the source, reading the articles or chapters, and determining whether the right type of audience is addressed by work.
The next part of assembling an annotated bibliography involves the style and format in which the bibliography is written in. When writing down an annotated bibliography, the writing style and the stance have to be chosen. There are three writing styles in which a student may write the annotation. A student may write the annotation in quick, succinct, and understandable phrases; or in complete but not too long or wordy sentences; or in complete, formal sentences consisting of a complete logical paragraph. Simultaneously, a student may any particular stance when writing the annotation, for instance, an evaluative, informative, indicative, or a combination of these stances.
At the same time, a student has to write an annotated bibliography in the format determined by the instructor, which may vary. Generally, the citation entries have to be arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of the authors. Then, the annotation, or the note about the entry, has to be written down after every citation. Every entry on an annotated bibliography consists of the combination of the citation and the annotation. The citation style and the annotation style both vary depending on the determined format. The annotation has to be written on a new line if the citation is in the APA format, and the annotation has to be written on the same line if the citation is in the MLA format.
Thus, quite a few intellectual skills, including informed library research, precise analysis, and succinct exposition, are involved in assembling an annotated bibliography. However, as long as the abovementioned process is followed, students can be certain that they are assembling their annotated bibliography correctly.