SOC 410: Senior Seminar in Sociology:
Social Problems in Global-Historical Perspective
WED 1-4 pm, Asbury 117
 DePauw University
 SPRING 2008
Professor Thomas Hall
 Office: 106 Asbury, x4519, email: thall@depauw.edu
 OFFICE HOURS:  Tu & Th 2 - 4 pm; W 4-5pm; & by appt
[I am usually in M, Tu, Th afternoons, 1-5 pm
please email to check first]
Annotated Bibliography
Due by February 13 at start of seminar.
Last Updated 1-14-08

This is a part of your Thesis Proposal.  It should include at least ten [10] different items, that are NOT course materials. That is, even if you are using one or more of the sources we have used in class, they do not count as part of the ten. These should all be PRINTED sources, that is, NOT internet sources. NOTE: Items that were originally in print, like journal articles, but are now electronic, like JSTOR count as print items; as do items from legitimate electronic sources like Journal of World-Systems Research.

The items must be listed in alphabetical order, and in correct format. See Formats and Bibliographies for Papers & Theses. Feel free to add more items. Also among the annotations, you may indicate that you would like to find more information on XYZ, but have not yet -- I may be able to suggest some things for you.

The annotation is a description of at least one sentence up to one paragraph of why that particular item seems to be important to your thesis. Even for long items like a book, you can tell what and why it is useful from the introduction. For articles the abstract or opening and closing paragraphs often will give you this information. Occasionally, an item that seems promising, turns out to be a false lead. This is one of the common pitfalls of all research.

There are several reasons for doing an annotated bibliography:

• it is a list of work to be done, with a justification of why it is to be done;
• it is an early check that you understand the proper formatting of references;
• it gets you started;
• the list and the annotation often help me to help you when you are stuck;
• if you have tremendous difficulty finding sources, that is a clue that you have picked an impractical topic, and should develop another one;
• it helps you focus your reading and discussions, both in class and on your own thesis.

As with the body of the proposal, this is a step along the way to a good thesis, it is not an end in itself. The more you can get done at this stage the easier it will be later. A solid start here often leads to a good thesis.

Send comments or questions to thall@depauw.edu
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