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Public Policy

Guide to resources for government, public policy, and public administration.

Writing Annotated Bibliographies

Having trouble understanding how to write an annotated bibliography? These sites give advice or examples. 

Sample Annotated Bibliography
http://langsdale.ubalt.edu/howto/course_websites/sp09/gvpp384_annbib_ex1.doc
An example of how to write and annotated bibliography for the Pathfinder Assignment. This example is on a completely different subject than yours, but the format is similar.

Annotated Bibliographies
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/AnnotatedBibliography.html
Describes how to write annotated bibliographies. It provides good examples of entries in an annotated bibliography.

Annotated Bibliographies
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_annotatedbib.html
Guide from the Purdue University describing how to write annotated bibliographies. The examples are particularly good.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm
Describes how to write annotated bibliographies. It gives a good overview of the process.

Finding Journal Articles

Journal articles are difficult to find through search engines like Google or Yahoo! or through the library catalog. Search the following databases to find articles in this field.

Having trouble using the databases?

  • Get a Langsdale Library barcode or renew your barcode.
  • Check out the Academic Search Premier Visual Guide, which does a good job of describing how to use most of the databases.
  • Break down wordy topics like "political parties in the 1930's in Central Europe"
    • political parties and postwar and Central Europe
  • Brainstorm synonyms for each of your keywords, and try out different combinations:
    • art and political and Central Europe
    • music and politics and Central Europe
    • waltz and society
    • painting and revolution and Eastern Europe
    • painting and society and Europe
  • If you want specific articles which Langsdale Library doesn't own, you can order them through Interlibrary Loan.
    • Interlibrary Loan may take 1-2 weeks. Order early!
    • Articles can usually be e-mailed to you.
    • To request an article, go to the Interlibrary Loan page or click on the yellow FindIt button in the database.
    • For more help, see our Guide to Interlibrary Loan.

Finding Government Info