Choose an environmental topic you are interested in reading more about

Objective: In modern times more than ever, it's important that we are able to find and understand good science. One of the issues regarding research, especially in the environmental sciences field, is the credibility of the sources used, particularly those obtained from various websites. By challenging you to carefully evaluate scientific sources, the Annotated Bibliography helps you to: * determine that the article (e.g., peer-reviewed journal paper, book, website article) you chose is academically and scientifically credible, * be able to read and summarize scientific research and * list those sources in proper APA reference format (version 7). This is a skill you will use in any subject! Keeping an annotated bibliography of your sources for every subject keeps you organized and expands your knowledge for whatever course and topic you are studying. Learning Objectives - LO-4.1 * Review the Perdue OWL site on how to reference scholarly literature in APA format. * Review the sample Annotated Bibliography provided to you: EVSP180 Annotated Bibliography Sample.pdf Use your own words (paraphrase) for the summary and evaluation. For help with paraphrasing, please review the 'Quoting and Paraphrasing' help in the Trefry Library Writing@APUS Center. Note that your Turnitin report similarity score should be under 20% (not including references) and free of paraphrasing issues. Review the color-flagged text on your report, fix any issues, and resubmit again before the deadline (this assignment is set to unlimited submissions until the deadline). Less than 10% of your work should contain direct quotes. Email me with any questions! Assignment Instructions: To begin with, choose an environmental topic you are interested in reading more about. You can look through the syllabus to get some ideas. Your Annotated Bibliography will include an APA-formatted reference, summary, and evaluation of TWO credible source articles you choose. You must use the template provided for your submission which also includes your grade for each section (assignments submitted without the full template will be returned) - EVSP180 Annotated Bibliography Template.docx What articles are acceptable? They must be peer-reviewed and found through the APUS Trefry Library. To learn how to search for peer-reviewed articles the library has a fantastic page - https://www(dot)apus(dot)edu/apus-library/resources-services/Writing/writing-center/the-research-process.html. Once on this page, click on "Identifying your resources" which takes you through the process. If you have a question about your article please don't hesitate to ask. Summary sections: What is the purpose of the article? Briefly address the following points in 4-6 sentences: Begin with a "topic sentence" that states the articles main point. (e.g., This article discusses topsoil loss in the state of Kansas.). Summarize the main findings and conclusions of the peer-reviewed journal paper, book, website article, etc. These should be specific and give the reader insight into their findings. Don't simply use broad statements about their intentions. Evaluation sections: After summarizing the article, it is necessary to evaluate it and state where you found it (journal, website, book, etc.). Briefly answer the following questions in 4-6 sentences: What is the format/type of source article (e.g., peer-reviewed journal paper, book, website article)? Is the author an authority/expert on the topic? Explain how the author is qualified (see below). For subject-matter experts, provide their credentials (e.g. degrees earned, professional or academic affiliations, published works) How is the publishing source (e.g., the website's sponsoring organization, journal, book publisher) credible? (e.g., The Journal of Mammalian Research is the peer-reviewed journal of the Society of Mammalian Researchers which is comprised of subject-matter expert members and published quarterly by the University of Linux.) For more help, see this handout on evaluating resources. Writing Expectations: Apply scientific concepts and use scientific terminology correctly. Utilize proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation Submission Instructions: Submit your Annotated Bibliography as a "Microsoft Word" document using the template provided (rather than a Word Pad, Works, etc. document). Accepted file types are .doc and .docx only. Your annotated bibliography is automatically submitted to Turnitin with your submission and checked against the standard Turnitin repositories. Originality reports will be returned to the faculty and student in roughly 15 minutes of the submission. It's always a good idea to review your report and update any issues. Multiple submissions are allowed before the due date. Once the due date has passed your assignment submission is final so please check it before the due date and email the instructor with any questions/concerns. Submit your articles in PDF format. Finally, submit the two articles as PDF's along with your assignment. This means you will have a total of 3 submissions to the assignment space. APA Reference Formatting Written in APA reference list format (7th edition). For more help with formatting, see the APA handout.