ONLY DO THE ABSTRACT AND REFERENCES FOR NOW: Instructions
The term paper is divided into two deliverables, each with its own due date. Detailed instructions and
a rubric for each deliverable are below.
1. Abstract and references
Your first deliverable is an abstract and 6 scholarly annotated references that you intend to use in
your paper. The purpose of this deliverable is to prompt you to develop an argument (thesis) for your paper at the same time as you are conducting research. Thinking about your paper’s argument from
the get-go will help guide you to scholarly sources that are the most useful to your paper.
Your abstract is a summary of your research topic and what you intend to argue. Your abstract should
include a brief overview of your topic (~2 sentences), a thesis statement (~1 sentence), and initial
insights and conclusions (~2-3 sentences). It should be between 150-200 words. Writing your abstract
early in the process is a way to get you thinking, but you are welcome to change your core focus or
argument in the final paper. Use this abstract to think deeply about what you want to say in your
paper, and what kind of evidence you need to say it.
Your annotated references are summaries of each source, and how you intend to use that source in
your paper. Your annotation for each reference should include ~2 sentences about the source’s main
point and/or findings, and then ~2 sentences evaluating its usefulness to your paper. Annotating these
sources early in the process will help you understand what information you have available to you,
and what information you are missing. As with the abstract, you are welcome to change the sources
that you use in the final paper.
Note that all of the annotated references in this deliverable must be scholarly (basically, a peer-
reviewed journal article or book chapter). If you’re unsure if a reference is scholarly or not, just email
me. You can also cite non-scholarly references in your final paper if you wish.
The abstract and references are worth 25 points (5% of your final grade). Upload a PDF document
to the “Abstract and References” link under the “Assessment” tab in Brightspace by Monday December 2, 2024.