EXAMPLES OF ANNOTATIONS FOR YOUR ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Remember, your annotations should provide two types of content:
  • Information: This part of the annotation is a summary of the source.  Begin by noting the main arguments that are relevant to your paper. What is the point of this book or article (or other source)? What topics are covered?  If someone asked what this source is about, what would you say? 
  • Evaluation:  In this part of the annotation you need to assess the source's strengths and weaknesses.  In a few sentences, say why the source is interesting or helpful to you.  Explain how this work relates to your research (e.g., provides basic background, agrees or disagrees with your thesis, etc.).  You might also want to comment on the author's authority or background, and/or compare or contrast this work with another you have cited. 

Galician, M.-L. (2001). Sex, love, and romance in the mass media: Analysis
    and criticism of unrealistic portrayals and their influence.  Mahwah, NJ: 
    Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
    [Chapter 14, pp. 185-192, about Myth #8]

Myth #8, "Bickering and fighting a lot mean that a man and a woman really love each other passionately," perpetuates the belief that the emotional aspect of constant conflict is what makes a romantic relationship exciting.  Conflict is a media strategy used to drive, and sell, a story (Galician, Ch5).  However, researchers like Gottman say that conflict must be constructive, and not an overwhelming part of the relationship, if that relationship is to be successful.  Galician gives an example of this myth in the movie, The Mexican, where the two main characters constantly fight with one another, only to fall in love at the end of the movie for no apparent reason.  Galician says the song, The Light, provides a counterpoint to this myth, as it stresses that  positive communication, and not insults, are key in a relationship. This chapter is helpful in that it talks about the qualities that define Myth #8, and gives the reader a starting point to find research to refute this myth.  However, the level of detail for this refutational information is minimal, so more research is necessary.  Gottman might be a good place to start.
[FYI - the above paragraph is 191 words]
 

Gottman, J. (1994). Why marriages succeed or fail...and how 
     you can make yours last.  New York: Fireside.

Gottman argues that conflict is not necessarily a negative quality in relationships–it depends on how you manage your conflict, and how much your partner and you match on your conflict styles.  Gottman identifies the volatile conflict style as one that is based on lots of bickering and fighting, but is often associated with lots of passion in the relationship too.  This would seem to support Myth #8 rather than refute it.  However, Gottman points out that in ALL types of relationships, including volatile ones, the number of positive interactions has to outweigh the negative interactions (at a 5:1 ratio).  Gottman also identifies destructive conflict behaviors that erode relationships, and suggests ways for improving the way one deals with conflict.  Gottman's research is very helpful in that it provides concrete techniques and examples for engaging in conflict constructively, as well as explaining and illustrating what happens if negative conflict behaviors are used.  Gottman's research is also based on 20 years of longitudinal research, so his suggestions are based on scientific evidence rather than conjecture or obsolete myths.
[FYI - the above paragraph is 177 words]