GC Wk8 Formal Promissory Abstracts and Working Bibliography for Research Project

Background

Your Proposal of two weeks ago was just an informal statement of what you would like to do, and why, with a few suggestions of what you might find useful for your project. That was primarily to get you started thinking of a project, and at the same time give me some information of what you personally are interested in.

This week you need to . . .

• • Prepare a formal "Promissory Abstract" for your semester Research Project using whatever Supporting Materials on this page that are relevant to your topic.
  • Prepare a "Working Bibliography" of items that you have looked at and think will be helpful to your Project.
  • Include both your formal promissory abstract and working bilbiolography into one file and upload to this assignment.

Tasks

Task 1: Write a Formal "Promissory Abstract" 

Write and submit a "promissory abstract" for your semester Research Project. The Promissory Abstract is a formal statement of what you actually intend to do. They are like an "executive summary" in that they briefly state what your project or paper or plan or whatever is about. In this case they are your "promise" to deliver the goods -- a presentation -- along with a brief model/description of what those goods are likely to be.

To prepare you promissory abstract:

1. 1. Write your promissory abstract in 250 words or fewer;
   2. Include three or more sources of information useful in researching the topic (Properly cited using formal MLA, APA, Chicago-Turabian, or science formatting conventions).
   3. Review Maxine C. Hairston¹ materials to understand what abstracts are all about, including what the different kinds of abstracts do, and specifically what a "promissory abstract" is all about:
      1. The Uses of Abstracts
      2. Writing the Abstract
      3. Length of Abstracts
   4. (optional) For additional guidance on promissory abstracts, review: "Promissory Abstracts" (OWL)

Note: A promissory abstract is different than a summary abstract which is often done at the end of the project. Abstracts: Promissory

Task 2: Assemble your Working Bibliography 

Assemble your "Working Bibliography". A "Working Bibliography" is a collection of references that you intend to use to support your project. And it is just that, a "working" document, and working documents change as you proceed with your project. As your project proceeds, you will likely add to and remove items as seems appropriate to the new direction(s) your project take. For example, in your final Presentation these are called "References" (that's APA style) or "Works Cited" (that's MLA style).

To assemble your working bibliography:

1. 1. List the resources that you think will be helpful to your project and that you expect to use for your presentation.
      • Include sources such as any or all of the following kind of items . . . 

• • • • traditional library printed materials (books, journals, magazines, government reports, microformat materials . . .)
      • library AV materials (videos, films, DVDs, audio recordings . . .)
      • library and on-online special collections (maps, images, oral history materials . . .)
      • materials from special conferences and events (for e.g., The Nobel Making Food Good Conference Archives Links to an external site. . . .)
      • materials from cultural myths and legends . . .
      • personal interviews (including relevant YouTube materials . . .)
      • questionnaires
      • personal journals and diaries . . .
      • personal interviews (you might even want to do something creative, like interview yourself . . .)
      •  relevant WebSite materials

Task 3: Upload your Promissory Abstract and your Working Bibliography in one file to Canvas

Include both your formal promissory abstract and working bibliography into one file and upload to this assignment.

• • • Save your file as .doc/docx 
    • Click on the "Start" and/or "Submit assignment" button at the end of this page to upload your file. (Refer to How to Submit a File to Upload Links to an external site. for more information)
    • Note:
      • e-mailed assignments will not be accepted
      • Once you have uploaded the file, you can not re upload the file.

Note: You should have comments on and suggestions for your Abstract/Bibliography and the Research Project itself returned to you after you finished taking 

Criteria

Rubric

Refer to the accompanying rubric (below) for assignment criteria categories.