Rhetoric II
Prof. G. Steinberg
Sample Annotated Bibliography
Below I provide you with an annotated bibliography excerpted from a published article.
Note that the annotated bibliography begins with an introductory paragraph that puts the sources into context. In this introductory paragraph, all the sources are briefly summarized and related to one another. Note also that all the sources are on a very narrow topic -- just one small aspect of a larger topic (so that the sources are easily related to one another).
Full bibliographical information is given for each source (in MLA style), followed by a brief comment that summarizes and evaluates the source. Each source is handled and evaluated separately, but links are sometimes made between one source and another (e.g., the references to Hofstede under Adler and under Gannon). Note that the evaluations of the individual sources are generally positive, looking primarily at the specific advantages and usefulness of each source rather than at any negatives about them.
Most annotated bibliographies list their sources in alphabetical order (by author’s last name), but the example below lists its sources by date instead (from most to least recent).
The books in this section discuss intercultural communication in terms of cultural dimensions and show how these dimensions apply to communication in multinational business settings, at the personal level, in interpersonal interaction, and at the national level. The first two readings introduce a theoretical framework for understanding cultural differences and give concrete examples of how these differences can manifest themselves in a multinational organization. In the first, Hofstede provides a dimensional theory of culture that begins the dialogue of charting differences. In the second, Nancy Adler applies Hofstede's cultural dimensions to management in the multinational organization. The next two authors discuss how cultural frameworks affect individuals at the personal and interpersonal levels. Michael Paige compiles writings from several experts in intercultural communication, demonstrating and discussing cross-cultural effects at the personal level. Craig Storti gives concrete examples of miscommunications that commonly occur in cross-cultural conversations, and shows how these can be comprehended and analyzed through an understanding of cultural differences and dimensions. Finally, in the last book, Martin Gannon offers a unique view of cultures based on the use of metaphors, explaining cultural dimensions within the context of history, traditions, and expected communication patterns.
Hofstede, Geert. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
Drawing on his research in different offices of a multinational firm, Hofstede provides a framework of cultural dimensions for understanding cultural differences. Based on the data he collected, Hofstede shows how individuals from different national cultures compare to one another along four main dimensions: individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity/femininity. Individualism/collectivism refers to the way in which members of a culture view themselves, as either individuals or as group members. Power distance addresses high versus low power distance and describes the distribution of power in an organization. Uncertainty avoidance refers to the degree of ambiguity with which cultural members feel comfortable. Masculinity/femininity refers to the value a culture places on assertive-ness and material success versus relationship maintenance and high quality of life. Hofstede also explores other frameworks for understanding cultural differences in Eastern cultures.
Hofstede's book is rich in theory and provides a framework for understanding the complexities of intercultural interaction and some of the underlying causes of intercultural conflict such as differences in the meaning of time, the use of physical space, and the acknowledgment of power. In particular, these concepts are useful for employees in international corporations.
Adler, Nancy. International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. Cincinnati, OH: South Western College Publishing, 1997.
Adler applies Hofstede's theory to practical business interactions that occur in international and multinational corporations. She begins with a discussion of variations in cultural orientation along six dimensions--individual, world, human relations, activity, time, and space--and the impact of these variations on organizations. Adler then turns to the issue of management in global organizations, addressing cross-cultural problem solving, multicultural team dynamics, leadership and decision making, and conflict and negotiation. And lastly, she discusses issues germane to those who work in international corporations such as culture shock, adjustment to a foreign country, and reentry into a home country; global transition from the spouse's perspective; and advancement in and the advantages and disadvantages of a global career.
Adler gives concrete examples of both business interactions that have gone wrong and business interactions that have gone right, while explaining the underlying cultural ideas in terms of Hofstede's dimensions of culture. She also analyzes common business problems across cultures, and makes recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of cross-cultural teams. Adler differs from Hofstede in her emphasis on intercultural situations in the business world and specifically on cross-cultural management.
Paige, Michael. Education for the Intercultural Experience. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural P, 1994.
In this edited collection, Paige compiles articles and essays from the field of intercultural communication. These articles address the ways in which individuals are affected by and react to the different cultural dimensions encountered in international and intercultural immersion experiences. They discuss in more depth many of the issues raised by Adler with respect to cross-cultural managers, such as culture shock, intercultural adjustment, and reentry. However, the articles also address other topics such as Milton Bennett's model of intercultural sensitivity, the effects of intercultural experience on the individual, methods for preparing individuals to live in another culture, and ways to recognize and deal with the stress inherent in intercultural communication.
In contrast to Adler, the articles in this book focus exclusively on the personal aspects of and preparation for intercultural experiences. As such, they are useful for helping individuals develop empathy for people from other cultures, people whom they may encounter as co-workers, audiences, and clients in international business contexts. These essays also can help global employees prepare for assignments that immerse them in different cultures.
Storti, Craig. Cross-Cultural Dialogues: 74 Brief Encounters with Cultural Differences. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural P, 1994.
Storti gives examples of intercultural miscommunication for the reader to think about, and then offers an "answer key" that explains the underlying cultural dimensions at work in each of the situations. The dialogues are short, yet they lead the reader to a better understanding of what cultural misunderstandings look and feel like. Each dialogue takes place between an American and someone from another culture, such as the Middle East, Britain, China, France, Germany, Spain, India, Japan, the Mediterranean, and Russia. Storti also frames the dialogues in different settings, either social, workplace, or business. The usefulness of this book lies in its concrete examples of cross-cultural communication, examples that illustrate differences in communication needs, meanings, and styles that result from individuals approaching communication with different cultural dimensions.
Gannon, Martin J., et al. Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 17
Countries. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1994.
In this collection, Gannon describes national cultures using metaphors of cultural artifacts specific to
seventeen different countries. He applies Hofstede's framework of cultural dimensions to the
metaphors, illustrating how cultural dimensions can manifest themselves with concrete examples of
traditions. For instance, Gannon describes Britain using the metaphor The Traditional British House,
or as possessing a culture with strong and deep foundations, reliant on tradition and unchanging over
time (19). Based on this metaphor, he discusses British history and political and economic climate,
"growing up British," and British cultural patterns in business. Gannon identifies the British need for privacy as an example of a definitive cultural dimension (26).
Other examples of cultural metaphors used by Gannon include The Italian Opera, in which Italy is characterized by features such as spectacle and pageantry, the importance of the voice, emotional expressiveness, and the unity of the "chorus"; French Wine, the principal elements of which--purity, classification, composition, suitability, maturation--describe French culture; The Nigerian Marketplace, a metaphor that emphasizes the important role played by trade in Nigerian history; and The Chinese Family Altar, which stresses the importance of family and kinship groups in Chinese culture. This metaphorical approach situates concrete examples of cultural dimensions in the context of history and tradition. Gannon's approach complements those of Storti, Paige, and Adler by giving a more contextualized view of culture at the national level.
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