What is a working thesis statement?
Overview
You will choose one health controversy to explore in greater depth from the list of health controversies discussed in the course. In consultation with your TA, you will develop an annotated bibliography containing 5 academic sources which are relevant to your chosen topic. You will then use what you have learned from this annotated bibliography to formulate a working thesis statement for your final research paper.
What should your annotated bibliography include?
1. A working thesis statement to introduce your annotated bibliography.
2. A bibliography is a list of citations. An annotated bibliography includes an annotation (summary, assessment, and reflection) after each citation.
3. For the purposes of this assignment, you must pick 5 academic sources:
2 sources can be journal articles assigned as course readings.
1 source has to be a journal article not assigned as course readings.
1 source has to be a book chapter from an academic book.
1 source can be a government report or a news article from a legitimate news outlet.
4. Each annotation must be around 200 words in length.
What is a working thesis statement?
Once you have completed all your annotated bibliography, you will have a good sense of what is being argued about the particular health controversy you have chosen to explore in greater depth. You will use this research to develop your own argument about the health controversy. A thesis statement is really just a summary of the argument you are making about a topic. Thesis statements often change during the writing process, which is why we are calling this a working thesis statement.
What is annotation?
For the purposes of an annotated bibliography, each annotation must include a summary, assessment, and reflection:
The summary involves identifying the main concepts, arguments, ideas in the source and writing this in your own words.
The assessment follows the summary and involves a brief evaluation of the quality of the source. For example, some questions you can answer as part of your assessment include: Is the source reliable? Is it objective enough? Is it unique in any way? Is it biased? Is it intersectional? Is it Eurocentric? Does it have a biomedical lens? Does it have a SDH perspective?
The reflection is the final component of your annotation and involves a brief explanation on how this source will support your final research paper.
The fine print
All annotations must be in paragraph form and use complete sentences. All sources must be cited using APA format. Pages must be numbered and should be proof-read carefully for clarity, organization, spelling, and grammar.
For more information on annotated bibliographies check out this resource: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/index.html
Rubric
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5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Working thesis statement |
Working thesis statement presents a clear and complete argument. Thesis statement is appropriate to health controversy of interest and relevant annotated bibliography. |
Working thesis statement presents a competent and well-developed argument. Thesis statement demonstrates an adequate understanding of health controversy of interest and relevant annotated bibliography. |
Attempted working thesis statement. Argument is unclear and unspecific. Does not demonstrate an adequate understanding of health controversy of interest and relevant annotated bibliography. |
Attempted working thesis statement does not present an argument. Instead, thesis statement is a statement of fact(s). Does not demonstrate an understanding of health controversy of interest and relevant annotated bibliography. |
No working thesis statement attempted. Demonstrates confusion and misunderstanding about health controversy of interest and relevant annotated bibliography. |
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Quantity of sources |
5 sources are cited. |
4 sources are cited. |
3 sources are cited. |
2 sources are cited. |
1 source is cited. |
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Accurate source types: 2 course assigned journal articles 1 journal article 1 academic book chapter 1 government report/newspaper article |
Cites all types of sources outlined in assignment. |
Cites almost all types of sources outlined in assignment. |
Cites a variety of sources but leaves out some types of sources outlined in assignment. |
Poor variety of sources cited; do not include most of the types of sources outlined in assignment. |
No variety of sources; do not include the types of sources outlined in assignment. |
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Completeness of annotations: Summary Assessment Reflection |
All annotations include a summary, assessment, and reflection. |
Almost all annotations include a summary, assessment, and reflection. |
Most annotations include a summary, assessment, and reflection. |
Few annotations include a summary, assessment, and reflection. |
Almost none of the annotations include a summary, assessment, and reflection. |
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APA citations |
All citations are formatted correctly. |
Almost all citations are formatted correctly. |
Most citations are formatted correctly. |
Few citations are formatted correctly. |
Almost none of the citations are formatted correctly. |
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