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Dance 370

This course guide provides information and resources to support DNCE 370 assignments.

Annotated Bibliography

From the St. Cloud State University website

A bibliography provides readers with the author, title and publication details of a source. An annotated bibliography adds a brief summary, or annotation, about each source (book, magazine, journal, etc.). Placed just below the facts of the publication, the annotation describes the content of the work. When writing the annotation, provide enough information in approximately three to five sentences for readers to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the source's purpose, content, and special value.Be sure to use complete sentences and to avoid wordiness.

Process for Writing an Annotated Bibliography

  1. List the completed bibliographical citation.
  2. Explain the main purpose of the work.
  3. Briefly describe the content.
  4. Indicate the possible audience for the work.
  5. Evaluate the relevance of the information.
  6. Note any special features.
  7. Warn readers of any defect, weakness, or bias.

Sample Annotation

Using the Chicago Author-Date Manual of Style, here is a sample annotation:

 

Nagrin, Daniel. 1993. Dance and the Specific Image Improvisation. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

As a seasoned dance artist, Nagrin offers an overview of his work where practical notes benefit from philosophical underpinnings. The book charts present the explorations of his Workgroup which he founded in the early 1970s in order to negotiate his ideas on movement as a metaphor as opposed to music as abstraction, and his belief in the necessity of dance to relate to people. Firstly, the history and theory behind the Workgroup is discussed which draws particular influence from the work of Stanislavsky, Helen Tamiris, and Joseph Chaikin. Secondly, the book explores the practice of his experimentations which include structures and scores.


 Professor Flanders-Crosby's class includes three questions raised for each article.

Annotated Bibliography Guidelines

 

For this class, please follow the structure below:

 

  1. Leadoff each annotated bibliography with your name, followed by the correct Chicago Author-Date bibliography citation style before you begin the synopsis. Hint – every reading in your assignment schedule is already in Chicago A/D, but take serious note of the form and style. IF you cite other writings in your synopsis, those will go at the end of the paper also in correct Chicago Author-Date. That style guide is loaded in the left-hand toolbar for easy access

  2. A synopsis of key readings are usually 2 paragraphs long. What was the main point? What were the key arguments around that point? What was the author trying to prove/persuade/inform the reader?

  3. 3 specific questions-raised from your readings. What further ideas did this article/lecture stimulate for you that are a source of intrigue, further research, or what remains unanswered for you? List each question raised. Then provide a 2-sentence or more response as to why this question was raised and a 2-sentence or more response as to what you might do to answer this question and how do you think it might apply (or not) to your dance topic? In other words, as each reading is designed to explore a theme (i.e. ethnographic research) or illuminate a research/theoretical lens (i.e. gender), dig deep to 

  4. think about how that theme or research lens may be employed by you to further refine your chosen project, or how a theme or research lens illuminates aspects of your chosen project that you did not think about before.

  5. You must define or identify three words, concepts, or people that are new to you.