The annotated bibliography provides summaries and descriptions of how 9 credible sources will be used to support an argumentative essay on the topic of grass-fed versus grain-fed beef. The sources include books, peer-reviewed articles, magazines, newspapers and websites. The annotations demonstrate that the sources are relevant and will help build the argument that grass-fed beef is better for health, environment and animal welfare compared to grain-fed beef. Reflection questions are answered thoroughly and demonstrate search strategies and difficulties finding sources.

1. Running Head: RESEARCH QUESTION, THESIS, AND
OUTLINE1
RESEARCH QUESTION, THESIS, AND OUTLINE 2
Research Question, Thesis, and Outline
Professor’s Name
Student’s Name
Course Title
Date
Research Question
Should euthanasia be legal in the United States?
Thesis Statement
Euthanasia should not be legal in the United States because it
is homicide, incompatible with palliative care and it encourage
people to end their lives.
Detailed Outline
I. Introduction
A. Euthanasia refers to the act of painlessly terminating the life
of a person suffering from incapacitating, incurable or painful
disease.
B. While euthanasia has various positive, its impacts at the
individual, societal and governmental levels are detrimental
(Agarwal & Balyan, 2019).
C. Euthanasia should not be legal in the United States because it
is homicide, incompatible with palliative care and it encourage
people to end their lives.

2. II. Body
A. Homicide
1. Killing or facilitating the death of another person is
considered murder in most countries across the world.
2. This remains the same even if the intentions are good.
3. Lack of strict guidelines to limit mercy killing makes allows
it to be abused (Vidanapathirana, 2017).
B. Incompatible with palliative care
1. Palliative care is based on the principle of respecting the
rights of improving the quality of life of people in healthcare
facilities. More than 85% of healthcare professional in Canada
are against mercy killing.
2. Euthanasia cause decline medical care for patients suffering
from incurable diseases (Brouwer et al., 2018).
C. Encourages people to end their lives
1. Mercy killing imposes significant pressure on people living
with disabilities and the elderly.
2. Terminally ill patients normally consider themselves a burden
to their families.
3. The increased burden on healthcare systems may increase the
pressure for patients to end their precious lives.
D. Counterargument
1. Making euthanasia legal would help alleviate the suffering
experienced by patients with incurable or painful diseases.
2. Mercy killing is the right of the patients allowing them to
choose the value of their lives.
3. It reduces healthcare costs for the families with terminally ill
patients.
4. The healthcare professional focus on providing emotional and
medical care to patients even if it reduces life expectancy
(Agarwal & Balyan, 2019). .
III. Conclusion
A. Mercy killing should not be allowed because it is homicide,
incompatible with palliative care and it encourage people to end
their lives.
B. It is important for the healthcare professionals to live by

3. their principles of operation which is based on ensuring the best
possible outcomes for their patients.
Reflection Questions
1. Learning to conduct research is important because it is a skill
you will use both in academia and in your professional life. It
improves critical thinking and empowers you to find
information for yourself. Consider the process of researching as
a whole. What was the most challenging aspect of the process
for you? (2-3 sentences)
The most challenging part for me in the process of researching
is choosing the right sources of information. It is very difficult
to evaluate each article you come across and determine its
authenticity and how it relates to the present topic.
2. The working thesis statement is a proposed answer to your
research question. It should clearly identify a debatable topic
and take a position on one side of that topic. Analyze the
effectiveness of your working thesis statement. (3-4 sentences)
My working thesis statement is very effective as it provide
answers to the proposed research question. It also allows very
specific and concentrates on a specific area. It also presents
specific and relevant arguments that can be discussed. In
addition, the thesis statement has some sense of forcefulness
showing the reader that I am making an argument.
3. A detailed outline is an effective tool for laying out the
progression of an argument. It allows you to consider the
arrangement and organization of your ideas, as well as choose
places to incorporate outside source materials. Review your
detailed outline and summarize the argument you've presented.
(3-4 sentences)
I have arrangement my arguments in a systematic order
throughout the paper. I started with the argument that
euthanasia should not be legalized because it is a homicide. The
argument is thoroughly discussed before the next idea is
introduced. The next argument is that mercy killing should not
be legalized because it is not compatible with palliative care
followed by the idea that it encourages people to end their lives.

4. 4. You will use the same topic on three of the remaining
Touchstones in this course. What kind of feedback would be
helpful for you? What are specific questions you might have as
you go deeper into the research process? (2-3 sentences)
I did my best to provide as many points as possible to support
my arguments in this outline. However, I’m not sure how many
arguments I should provide to give enough support to my
argument.
References
Agarwal, R., & Balyan, B. (2019). Euthanasia: An Indian
Perspective. ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary
Research, 9(6), 367-373. Retrieved from
http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:zijmr&volu
me=9&issue=6&article=035
Brouwer, M., Kaczor, C., Battin, M. P., Maeckelberghe, E.,
Lantos, J. D., & Verhagen, E. (2018). Should pediatric
euthanasia be legalized?. Pediatrics, 141(2), e20171343.
Retrieved from
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/141/2/e20171343
Vidanapathirana, M. (2017). Non-voluntary passive euthanasia
should be legalized in Sri Lanka. Retrieved from
http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7558
Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING

5. Logan Stevens
English Composition II
December 12, 2019
Annotated Bibliography
Brown, M., & Funk, C. (2008). Food security under climate
change. Science, 319
(5863), 580-581. doi: 10.1126/science.1154102
The authors claim that developing regions of the globe are
likely to face serious food
insecurity as climate change affects crops. These regions are
particularly
endangered because they are distinctly vulnerable to the
demands of Western
markets (the desire for mono-cropping corn, for example, in
order to feed cattle) and
lacking in the kinds of agricultural technology that help farmers
cope with
environmental effects on crops. Brown and Funk claim that
investing in local food

6. economies—including sustainability, agricultural technologies,
and emergency
plans—will help these areas of the globe acquire enough food in
the face of climate
change. change. This source will be useful to my paper as it
provides a big picture
example of the related effects of factory farming and the
coming dangers of climate
change that push us to change our eating and food production
habits, so I can use this to
discuss both my argument and the counter-arguments.
Comment [SL1]: Good adherence to APA
formatting here.
Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
(Peer-Reviewed Article)
Cook, C. (2004). Diet for a dead planet: How the food industry
is killing us. New
York, NY: New Press.
Cook argues that our current food system is destroying us in
several ways. For

7. example, we have pesticides and antibiotics that are used in
industrial agriculture,
as well the significant ecological damage of industrial food
production, the stripped
nutrients that we now find in our food, and the social justice
issues of farm worker
and immigrant labor. This book will be useful to the conclusion
of my essay when I
encourage readers to take action beyond just purchasing
choices.
(Book)
Davis, C., & Lin, B.H. (2005). Factors affecting U.S. beef
consumption. Retrieved from
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-
details/?pubid=37389.
This government website provides information on beef
consumption in the United
States. It breaks down beef consumption by geography (highest
in the Midwest and
lowest in the Northeast), by percentage eaten by rural or urban
consumers, and by
race and ethnicity. This information establishes context for the
topic and will be useful

8. in the introductory paragraphs of my essay to inform readers of
the popularity of
eating beef in America.
(Credible Website)
Lappe, A. (2010). Diet for a hot planet: The climate crisis at the
end of your fork. New York,
NY: Bloomsbury.
In this book, Lappe describes the effect of industrial food
production on global climate
change. She traces food from planting and animal husbandry to
harvest and production,
Comment [SL2]: Good. You summarize the
main points made by the source and explain
how
you plan to use this information in your
argument.
Comment [SL3]: This source sounds like it’s
very wide-ranging, and you do a good job of
focusing on a single aspect which will be
useful in
your conclusion.
Comment [SL4]: Excellent. It can be very
difficult to find credible web sources, but this is a
very useful and appropriate source.

9. Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
ultimately arguing that we need to take a more local and
sustainable approach to food
production. This book will be very useful to my essay because
of the focus on climate
change and the discussion of animal production in particular.
These ideas will support the
part of my thesis that focuses on consuming beef that is locally
sourced.
(Book)
Palmer, B. (2010). Pass on grass: Is grass-fed beef better for the
environment? Slate.
Retrieved from
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lan
tern/2010/12/pass_
on_grass.htm
Palmer compares the environmental impact of both grain-fed,
factory-farmed beef
and grass-fed, free-range beef. Some controversial evidence
exists that grain-fed

10. beef might be better in some ways; however, the expenses of
grain, issues of
monocropping corn and soy, and excess manure suggest that
grass-fed is
environmentally better. Palmer also emphasizes that however
the cow is raised,
“eating beef will never be the greenest thing you do in a day”
(para. 2). This source
will be useful to my essay because it tends to favor grass-fed
beef while highlighting
the negative environmental impacts of all beef, which will help
me evaluate the
environmental consequences of eating beef and discuss
alternative actions.
(Magazine)
Pollan, M. (2002). An animal’s place. The New York Times.
Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/10/magazine/an-animal-s-
place.html
Pollan, a well-respected food journalist and activist, engages
with the ethical
arguments of vegetarianism, admitting that animals feel pain
and fear, and that they
Comment [SL5]: Good. This is very specific and

11. clearly demonstrates how this source will help
you develop your argument.
Comment [SL6]: You don’t have to include
specific quotations in your annotated
bibliography, but sometimes it can be helpful to
do so when there’s somethingspecific that you
want to use in your paper. Well done.
Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
deserve to be treated humanely. He extends this discussion to
the ethical conflicts
surrounding factory farming and the negative treatment of
animals. Pollan
ultimately rejects vegetarianism and calls, instead, for an early
version of
“locavorism,” sourcing one’s food from environmentally
responsible and humane
producers who are also geographically close. This article will
be useful to my essay
because Pollan’s perspective is foundational to my argument
that it matters how
our food is produced and that when it comes to beef,

12. specifically, we should aim for
the most sustainable methods if we’re going to eat it at all.
(Newspaper)
Ruechel, J. (2006). Grass-fed cattle: How to produce and market
natural beef. North
Adams, MA. Storey Publishing.
This book is a guide for raising grass-fed cattle. It is useful for
describing the health
benefits of grass-fed beef in particular, as well as the more
positive environmental
impacts as compared to grain-fed, factory-farmed beef. This
source will be useful
to my essay because it provides factual data and statistics that
will support my
argument that grass-fed beef is better both for consumers and
the environment.
(Book)
Sager, G. (2008). Where’s your beef from?: Grass-fed beef: Is it
green, humane and
healthful? Retrieved from:
http://www.life.ca/naturallife/0812/grassfed_
beef_green_humane_healthful.html
This article compares the differences between grass-fed and

13. grain-fed beef. It
highlights the health benefits of grass-fed over grain-fed,
discusses that grass-fed
does not equal organic, and describes the negative global impact
of grass-fed
Comment [SL7]: Very good.
Comment [SL8]: Good. This looks like the
credible source with solid evidence and you
clearly demonstrate how you plan to use it to
support your argument.
Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
beef—particularly that raised outside the US. This source will
be useful to my
argument since it presents a wealth of data and discusses the
complexity of the
topic. I will also be able to use this source to present the
opposing viewpoints to
my argument.
(Credible Website)

14. Comment [SL9]: This looks like an interesting
source. It appears to be credible and fact-based,
but be very careful using sources that focus on
presenting a certain perspective; thesecan often
tradein biased or less credible information. The
information you reference here seems clear and
unbiased, but make sure to vet your sources very
carefully.
Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
Reflection Questions:
1. Accurately recording bibliographic information is essential
and saves you time, as you
can transfer this information to the References page of your
drafted essay. Each source
entry should include a brief summary of the source as well as 3-
4 sentences describing
how you intend to use that source to build or support your
argument. Discuss how your
annotated bibliography meets these criteria. (2-3 sentences)
My annotated bibliography meets all of these requirements
because I have summarized the
source and explained how I am going to use it within my
Argumentative essay. I think this is

15. an important step before drafting the essay, because I’m finding
I take less time gathering
information since I’m explaining the validity and usefulness of
each source.
2. Which strategies were most helpful for you when searching
for credible sources? (2-3
sentences)
I found it extremely helpful to look at, not only when the source
was published, but whether
or not the information was going to help support my claim or
not. On top of that, cross-
checking the information to make sure it is valid. This helped
me find sources that I could
utilize fully, instead of pulling one detail from each.
3. What difficulties did you face while searching for credible
sources? How did you
overcome these difficulties? (2-3 sentences)
I was able to find a lot of sources that could only provide a
small piece of support toward my
claim. It was a bit more difficult to find sources in which I
could use more than one point. I
tried to make sure that I was searching for a clear and consistent
group of sources to ensure I
didn’t need more than the few sources I found.

16. Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English
Composition II
SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE ANDSCORING
Annotated Bibliography Rubric and Feedback
Rubric
Category
Feedback Score
(acceptable, needs
improvement etc.)
Annotated
Bibliography
You have exceeded the required number of
sources. You summarize them very clearly, and
you provide information about how you plan to
use them to support your thesis statement.
18/20
Quality of
Sources

17. All sources appear to be credible and relevant to
your topic. You’ve formatted this effectively as
well.
13/15
Style Your word choices are consistently effective. You
do a good job of avoiding redundancy and
imprecise language.
5/5
Conventions You adhere well to all of the APA formatting
requirements and your use of English
conventions is consistent throughout the
touchstone. Well done.
5/5
Reflection You answer all of the questions thoroughly,
providing insights, observations, and examples in
your responses. You consistently exceed the
length guidelines for your responses.
5/5

18. Overall Score and Feedback: 46/50