Purpose: As a researcher, you are becoming an expert on your topic: you are developing the ability to explain the content of your sources, assess their usefulness, and share this information with others who may be less familiar with them. One goal of the annotated bibliography is to promote your critical reading of sources. Another is to develop your skills in effective internet and library research. This assignment will also give you practice in properly citing and documenting sources in compliance with the rules of a documentation system (MLA).

Assignment: This assignment asks you to create an evaluative annotated bibliography containing a total of 3 potential sources. Your three sources will include one (1) sources from scholarly journals and two (2) sources from credible online websites. Encyclopedias and dictionaries do not count for this assignment.

What is an Evaluative Annotated Bibliography? An evaluative annotated bibliography is a list of bibliographic citations to books, websites, articles, and documents that include a descriptive and evaluative paragraph for each text. The purpose of the annotated bibliography is to begin building an electronic log of your research sources for your research paper. In addition, annotated bibliography is used to inform the writer of their source content as well as the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited (see CRAAP test handout). In other words, you will provide a summary of your sources, as well as a rationale for how well your source meets the CRAAP test.

Constraints:

• Typed in MS Word (follow template below; include your narrow research question).
• Each annotated source should begin with a MLA bibliographic entry.
• Length per source: approx. one or two paragraphs
• Double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font (MLA format)

Process:

Step 1: While preparing this assignment, print important texts, mark them up, noting useful information and taking notes. One of the challenges of doing research is that information and/or websites change and can disappear. Printing documents is absolutely essential for a successful research process.

Step 2: Write the bibliographic entry for your source according to MLA guidelines. Under this entry you will write the annotation (summary and evaluation of the source). A Word document template is provided below to help you construct your list of sources.

Follow the guidelines below for each entry.

1. Cite the source using MLA or APA style.
2. Describe the main ideas, arguments, themes, theses, or methodology, and identify the intended audience.
3. Explain the author’s expertise, point of view, and any bias he/she may have.
4. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source.
5. Identify how the source will or may be used for your research topic.

To find information on how to cite sources in the body of your paper and how to document them in a bibliography or Works Cited page, review textbook chapter 7, consult handouts, or visit Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/ (Links to an external site.)(for MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style).

Step 3: Revise, edit, and proofread your draft. As always, be sure to re-read the instructions you’ve been given (this assignment sheet) and the example(s) annotated bibliography.

 I choose Sony or Subway to answer the following questions below:

1. Target Customers/Users

Who are the target customers for the company/brand? Make sure you tell why you selected each item that you did.

Age Bracket: [Insert response]

Gender: [Insert response]

Income Bracket: [Insert response]

Education Level: [Insert response]

Lifestyles: [Insert response]

Psychographics: [Insert response]

Values: [Insert response]

Other items you would segment up on: [Insert response]

How does the company currently reach its customers/users? What methods and media does the company use to currently reach the customers/users? What methods and media should the company use to currently reach the customers/users? Make sure you list the media and why you think it will reach the customers.

[Insert response]

What would grab the customers/users’ attention? Why do you think this will capture their attention?

[Insert response]

What do these target customers’ value? Why do you think they value these items?

[Insert response]

2. Competitors

Who are the brand’s competitors? Provide at least 3 competitors and tell why you selected each competitor.

Competitor 1: [Insert response]

Competitor 2: [Insert response]

Competitor 3: [Insert response]

What product category does the brand fit into? Why have you placed this brand into the product category that you did?

[Insert response]

What frame of reference will customers use in making a choice to use/purchase this brand/service? What other brands/companies might customers compare this brand to?

[Insert response]

3. USP (Unique Selling Proposition)

How is this brand/company better than its competitors? What is the brand’s USP (Unique Selling Proposition? Why have you decided upon this particular USP?

Unique Selling Proposition: [Insert response]

Defense of USP: [Insert response]

What is the brand’s uniqueness? Why do you think this is a key uniqueness for this business?

[Insert response]

What is the competitive advantage of the brand? How is it different from other competing brands? Why do you consider this a competitive advantage?

[Insert response]

What attributes or benefits does the brand have that dominate competitors? Why do you think they dominate?

[Insert response]