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East Greenwich High School Library: AP History - Oral History Project

A list of clubs who have websites at East Greenwich High School.

Research Resources for Oral History Project

EBSCO Explora World Book Advanced Online Encyclopedia  JStor Open Content

1.  Collect background knowledge about the topic.   

  • Start by collecting fact-based, non-biased information about your topic. 
  • Use the ESBCO Explora, World Book Encyclopedia Advanced, or JStor Open Content databases.  These resources will provide a topic overview and help you become familiar with relevant vocabulary, and provide context to what was happening in the world at the time.

2. Cite and Annotate your Sources with NoodleTools.

  • It's easy to create an Annotated Bibliography with NoodleTools.  NoodleTools saves your work, formats your citations in MLA format and alphabetizes your sources.  Read the materials posted on this page to understand what should be included in an annotated bibliography.  Watch the tutorials below to learn how to use NoodleTools to create your annotated bibliography.  

3.  Print/Export Your Annotated Bibliography.  

  • Follow the steps below to export/print your annotated bibliography from NoodleTools. 

4. Turn in Your Annotated Bibliography to Your Teacher!

Creating an Annotated Bibliography with NoodleTools

Step 1: Create a New Project for your Annotated Bibliography using NoodleTools

This video tutorial will show you the steps of logging in to your school NoodleTools account to create a new Project.

Step 2: Create a Citation and Annotation for a Research Source using NoodleTools

This video tutorial will show you the steps of creating a citation from a database article and starting the annotation process.

Step 3: Print/Export Your Annotated Bibliography from NoodleTools

This video tutorial will show you how to print/export your annotated bibliography from NoodleTools, add the required heading components, and save to your Google Drive. 

This slide shows how to set up the running header and headings on your annotated bibliography.
*Remember that the date is formatted day month year.

These two slides show how to create line breaks so that your citation and annotation are separated on your annotated bibliography.

This video tutorial will show you how to use NoodleTools to create a citation for the interview you have conducted for your Oral History Project.

This video tutorial will show you how to export a citation from a database into NoodleTools.

Need Research or Citation Assistance?

Need help?  Please stop by the library to schedule an appointment with Mrs. Steever.  Learning from home?  Email me to schedule a virtual appointment.  Please be prepared with your list of questions or specific resources needed prior to your meeting.

Database Tutorials

Video Tutorial for Using EBSCO Explora Database

Tutorial for Using the Permalink tool in a Database.  

If you wish to return back to a database article.  Do NOT bookmark or save the website URL posted in your browser.  This link will not work because we pay for access to the database and the URL utilizes a security protocol.  You must access the database tools and select Permalink to access the article-specific URL.  The Permalink will always link back to the article.

Follow the instructions provided in the tutorial above.

Video Tutorial for Using the World Book Advanced Encyclopedia

Overview of an Annotated Bibliography

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

A bibliography is a list of sources (books, database articles, Web sites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic.  An annotation is a short summary and/or critical evaluation of a source. An annotated bibliography looks like a Works Cited page but includes an annotation after each source cited. Annotated bibliographies can be part of a larger research project, or can be a stand-alone report in itself.  

1. Summarize:  Write 2-4 sentences to summarize the main idea(s) of the source.  The length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is.  See this resource on paraphrasing sources.  

  • What are the main arguments?
  • What is the point of this book or article?
  • What topics are covered?
  • If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say?

2. Assess: After summarizing a source, write 1-2 sentences assessing and evaluating the source. 

  • How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography?
  • Is the information reliable? Current?
  • Is this source biased or objective?
  • What is the goal of this source?
  • Is the author credible?  Do they have the background to write on this topic?

3. Reflect: Once you've summarized and assessed a source, write 1-2 sentences explaining how this information fits into your research.

  • Was this source helpful to you?
  • How does it help you shape your argument?
  • How can you use this source in your research project?
  • Has it changed how you think about your topic?

 Remember: Annotations are original descriptions you create AFTER reading the document. 

Adapted from the Purdue Owl.

 

Guidelines to follow when typing your Annotated Bibliography:
*NoodleTools will format your annotated bibliography correctly and automatically for you.

  • 1" margins
  • 12 pt. font
  • Double-spaced
  • The second line on each citation indented 0.5", annotations are indented 0.5" (this is called a hanging indent)
  • Sources listed in alphabetical order

Annotated Bibliography Example

This slide shows how to set up the running header and headings on your annotated bibliography.
*Remember that the date is formatted day month year.

This video illustrates the steps for creating an annotated bibliography in APA format but is still helpful in understanding the components of an annotated bibliography.

Why should I write an annotated bibliography?

  • To learn about your topic: Writing an annotated bibliography is excellent preparation for a research project. Just collecting sources for a bibliography is useful, but when you have to write annotations for each source, you're forced to read each source more carefully. You begin to read more critically instead of just collecting information.
  • To help you formulate a thesis: Every good research paper is an argument. The purpose of research is to state and support a thesis. So, a very important part of research is developing a thesis that is debatable, interesting, and current. Writing an annotated bibliography can help you gain a good perspective on what is being said about your topic. By reading and responding to a variety of sources on a topic, you'll start to see what the issues are, what people are arguing about, and you'll then be able to develop your own point of view.

Adapted from the Purdue Owl.