PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH PROJECT

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Part 3: Annotated Bibliography Instructions

An annotated bibliography is a tool often used by researchers to record findings in important scholarly work that relates to their own research question. An annotated bibliography is a listing of sources, with each entry followed by a brief paragraph summarizing key arguments, concepts, information, important findings/conclusions, and the professional or personal bias of the author(s), if any. Summaries may include properly cited quotations or data from the work, but must be in the researcher’s own writing.

For this assignment, you will develop your own 4–5-page (1,000–1,200 words) Annotated Bibliography featuring AT LEAST 8–10 scholarly sources relevant to your topic. The majority of sources must be no older than 10 years. The Annotated Bibliography must be formatted in current Turabian Author-Date Reference list style, with a paragraph of annotations following each list entry. Single-spacing may be used for this assignment.

Note: At this stage, the Annotated Bibliography will not represent all sources used in the final paper and will not serve as the paper’s Reference list; however, it may be adapted (i.e. annotations removed) and expanded to serve as your Reference list.

Public Policy Research Project Topic

Are recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings consistent with the Founding Fathers’ intentions for the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, and what role does the common phrase “separation of church and state” play in political discourse related to constitutional interpretation? Include in your discussion whether and/or to what extent separation of church and state is consistent with biblical principles. Historical, legal and academic sources are appropriate sources for this assignment. Popular sources or advocacy publications may be used sparingly to convey opposing sides in the contemporary debate, but do not count toward your required number of sources.

Research & Writing Tips:

  • For help getting started with research, use the Jerry Falwell Library’s Government Research Guide.
  • Upon finding a relevant source that addresses your chosen policy issue, consult the source’s References or Works Cited list. It may lead you to interesting sources for your own use.