Annotated+Bibliography



Springfield Township High School Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography

Student Name: Alex Sovira Annotation # 2

MLA Citation: Corchado, Alfredo. "Revamped Mexican anti-drug Strategy Focuses on Zetas." Gale Student Resource Center. N.p., June-July 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2011. .

INFORMATION: Author’s credentials: The author is a writer for the Dallas Morning News, a major newspaper in Dallas.

Scope and purpose of the work: The article is an informational report, written as a newspaper article.

Intended Audience: The intended audience is any reader of the Dallas Morning News, or for anyone interested in using the article for an informative report.

SUMMARY Thesis or main idea: The main idea is that the Mexican government is targeting the Zeta Drug Cartel, as a new approach to trying to end the war.

Summary of main arguments: The article covers a recent confrontation between the Zetas and the Mexican marines which was the turning point in the Mexican government’s decision to target this specific cartel. The article also provides background information on the cartel, and gives reasons to why this cartel is being targeted.

EVIDENCE Summary of evidence: There is an estimated 15,000 members of the Zetas cartel, which expands into California, Texas, and Central America. Crimes including the findings of 72 bodies on a ranch in Mexico, and the graves of 200 bodies, are all crimes committed by the Zetas cartel.

EVALUATION Evaluation of research: The work is well-researched, evident by the many quotes, and statistics on the topic. The article is logical, first by reporting on a recent confrontation between the Zetas and Mexican authorities. The article than focuses in on the Mexican government’s new strategy to get rid of the cartel.

Evaluation of scope: The topic has been adequately addressed, many facts about the Zetas cartel, and the war in general, were given. Also, many quotes were used to get the authors point across.

Evaluation of author bias: There is no author bias in the article. The author takes an objective stance, only reporting the facts about the event.

REFLECTION: This source is important because it highlights the Mexican governments new strategy of trying to take out the Zetas cartel. I learned a lot about the cartel, and why it is such a dangerous threat to the Mexican people.

Springfield Township High School Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography

Student Name: Alex Sovira Annotation # 3

MLA Citation: Llana, Sara Miller. "Mexican families struggle to find drug war's 'disappeared.'" Christian Science Monitor. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. .

INFORMATION: Author’s credentials: Sarah Miller Llana is a journalist for the Christian Science Monitor. She is also the Latin America Bureau chief, demonstrating her interest in current events that take place across Latin America, and in Mexico.

Scope and purpose of the work : The article is an informative report about the disappearance of civilians in Mexico. The purpose of the article is to make readers aware of the issue, and to inform the reader of what the Mexican government is doing to address the issue.

Intended Audience: The intended audience is for anyone interested in the disappearance’s in Mexico, readers of the Christian Science Monitor, and for anyone using the article as a resource for an informative presentation.

SUMMARY Thesis or main idea: The main idea is that since the drug war began in Mexico, there have been 5,397 reports of missing people according to the National Human Rights Commission. The author takes a non-bias role, but provides evidence that suggests the government should make the issue of kidnappings a higher priority.

Summary of main arguments: The author cites many different statistics on the amount of people disappearing in Mexico, as well as information on what is being done to address and attempt to fix the problem. The author also provides information on the issues that block progress from being made.

EVIDENCE Summary of evidence: The author provides multiple statistics of the amount of people that have went missing in Mexico. According to the National Human Rights Commission, during a sixth-month period in 2010, 11,000 migrants have been kidnapped. The Association of Relatives of the Detained, Disappeared, and Victims of Human Rights Violations in Mexico has counted 4,000 people missing since the current president of Mexico, Calderon, was elected.

EVALUATION Evaluation of research: The article is well-researched, with multiple statistics cited. The author also gives information on how the president of Mexico is addressing the issue, and of how groups not tied to the government, are trying to make a positive difference by helping find those who have gone missing.

Evaluation of scope: The topic has been adequately addressed and the author has done a good job of making the reader aware of an issue that has not gotten the full attention of the Mexican government.

Evaluation of author bias: The author takes an objective stance in reporting by not including their opinion in the article. The author also reveals that the Mexican government is doing little to stop the kidnappings, and is probably using their article to get the attention of the public on an issue that is receiving little attention to begin with.

REFLECTION: The source provided me with information on an issue that is directly caused by the Mexican drug war. This article reveals only more information on why it is important to stop the drug war. Not only are innocent people being killed over drugs, but are being kidnapped over drugs as well.

Springfield Township High School Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography

Student Name: Alex Sovira Annotation # 7

MLA Citation: "Inside Mexico's drug war." World Policy Journal. Gale Student Resources in Context, n.d. Web. Apr. 2010. .

INFORMATION: Author’s credentials: No author is listed.

Scope and purpose of the work: The article is an overview of the current drug war in Mexico. The article also gives the history of the Colombian drug war, and how when the violence ended in Colombia; it spread into Mexico.

Intended Audience: The targeted audience is for anyone using the article as an informational resource. The article is not meant for casual readers seeking entertainment because it goes into great detail about the war and violence in Mexico.

SUMMARY Thesis or main idea: The author does not make a clear thesis, or present an argument. The author is reporting on a topic, and giving the history of that topic.

Summary of main arguments: The topics of the Colombian drug cartels, the Mexican drug cartels, and what is being done to stop the current cartels in Mexico are being covered. More Specifically, the article states what the Mexican and United States governments are doing to combat the cartels.

EVIDENCE Summary of evidence: Mexican cartels first involvement in drugs began as traffickers for Colombian cartels 2009, Mexican and Colombian cartels make $17 to $38 billion annually Sinaloa gang Mexico’s largest cartel Los Zetas cartel began as security for other cartels Colombia stopped violence by centralizing police command, retrain police in anti-narcotics tactics, increase salaries

EVALUATION Evaluation of research: The work is well-developed and well-researched. There are many facts given which support the points the author is trying making.

Evaluation of scope: The topics have been adequately addressed. The article explains how the Colombian’s stopped the violence in Colombia. The article also explains all of the major Mexican drug cartels, and how they started.

Evaluation of author bias: There is no author bias in the article. The author does not make any arguments, but instead reports on the Mexican drug war, and other topics covered in the article.

REFLECTION: The source is helpful because it explains how the drugs and violence reached Mexico. It also explains in detail, the different cartels, and what the Colombian government has done to stop the cartels in their country.

Springfield Township High School Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography

Student Name: Alex Sovira Annotation # 8

MLA Citation: Wilkinson, Tracy. Los Angeles Times. N.p., 19 Oct. 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. .

INFORMATION: Author’s credentials: The author, Tracy Wilkinson has worked for the Los Angeles Times since 1987. She is currently the Mexico City Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times.

Scope and purpose of the work : The article is an informational report of a specific event which recently occurred.

Intended Audience: The article comes from a local Los Angeles newspaper. Therefore the intended audience is most likely readers of the Los Angeles Times. Non-readers of the paper can also gain knowledge or use out of the article.

SUMMARY Thesis or main idea: The article focuses around a recent incident where three dozen bodies were dumped under an underpass in the city of Veracruz. 60 more bodies turned up on later dates. It is believed a vigilante group carried out the murders, targeting members of the Zetas cartel.

Summary of main arguments: The article covers the incident of which about 96 bodies were found. The article also speculates who is responsible for the killings because no clear killer or killers have been identified. Possible groups responsible for the killings are vigilantes, Mexican marines, or other drug cartels.

EVIDENCE Summary of evidence: Some bodies recovered have the letter “Z” written on their backs in marker Videotape found shows masked gunman claiming responsibility for killings Refer to killings as “cleansing operation” Many seemingly innocent people were among found dead

EVALUATION Evaluation of research: The research is well-developed and covers the incident at-hand with sufficient detail. The article also gives background information of the Zetas involvement in the town of Veracruz, and information on the possible groups which could have carried out the killings.

Evaluation of scope: The topic has been addressed adequately. But key information about specific details involving the incident have not been recovered yet.

Evaluation of author bias: The author shares no bias, and is reporting from the standpoint of a journalist. The author does not make an argument or present a thesis in the article.

REFLECTION: The source is helpful because it gives an example of possible vigilante “justice” that is being used to fight the cartels. The article also gives information as to why vigilante groups are attempting to stop the cartels, and discusses if they help or hurt the cause.

Springfield Township High School Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography

Student Name: Alex Sovira Annotation # 10

MLA Citation: Miroff, Nick, and William Booth. “Mexico’s drug war is Giving Growers a Break.” The Washington Post. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .

INFORMATION: Author’s credentials: Nick Miroff is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. He reports for the Washington Post, NPR, and to other newspapers and journals. William Booth graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, and is currently a staff writer for the Washington Post.

Scope and purpose of the work: The article is an informational report about a particular trend occurring over the past couple of years.

Intended Audience: The intended audience is readers of the Washington Post or any person who happens to read this particular article.

SUMMARY Thesis or main idea: The main idea of the article is that since the drug war began, the acreage devoted to marijuana and opium poppies has soared, despite a crackdown on drug activity.

Summary of main arguments: The article covers the topics of the increase in marijuana and opium growing, increase in spending to fight the drug war, and contributing factors to why marijuana and opium growing is on the rise.

EVIDENCE Summary of evidence: Since 2006 acreage for marijuana farming doubled in Mexico Mexico now worlds second leading heroin producer In 2005 Mexican authorities burned 77,500 acres of marijuana. Just burned 43,000 acres last year Heroin production in Mexico from 8 metric tons in 2005 to 50 metric tons in 2009

EVALUATION Evaluation of research: The article was well-researched because two authors and one researcher all contributed to the article, which is evident by the many statistics and facts given in the article.

Evaluation of scope: The main topic has been adequately addressed and reported on. The other sub-topics have also been reported on with sufficient support given to back them up.

Evaluation of author bias: There is no author bias in the article. The authors of the article gave a report which showed no bias, or an attempt at making a argument.

REFLECTION: This article is important because it shows how in certain areas Mexico and the United States plan to end the drug war is failing. The article also shows some of the challenges presented in fighting the drug war.