26 Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography needs to:
- list potential sources
- follow source citation format
- provide a quick summary of the source
Why write an annotated bibliography? An annotated bibliography is a way to create a resource of all the materials that could be used for writing a paper. Since arriving at a final draft takes many stages, from inquiry to research to revision, an annotated bibliography keeps track of all the potential sources in one place. This tool can be quite beneficial throughout the writing process, especially when ideas begin to clarify and the article that, at first was only on the fringe, now has become integral to the paper. Use an annotated bibliography to save yourself the time and frustration of trying to re-find articles.
What does an annotated bibliography look like? It looks just like a source page. So for MLA, a Works Cited page. For APA, a References page. For Chicago, a Bibliography page. Source citations go in alphabetical order; however, each citation also includes a notation summarizing the source.
LibreText offers these recommendations for writing an annotated bibliography:
What is Generally Included in the Annotation?
Start your bibliography entry just like a normal works cited entry. At the end of the normal citation include:
- Between 2 to 4 sentences that summarize the sources main idea.
- Between 1 or 2 sentences that relate the article to your paper either indicating how that information is useful to your research or how the information will be used.
The information within your annotation may include:
- A brief description of content.
- The main purpose of the source.
- The intended audience: Who the information seems to be targeting.
- The relevance of the information provided to your paper’s subject matter.
- If the source includes anything special (diagrams, charts, quotes, good pictures).
- A warning. You may want to mention if the source you are looking at is weakly written, biased to a point of view, or if it is lacking in any way.
Need more?
Cornell University has “How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography: The Annotated Bibliography.”
Check out the annotated bibliography assignment under Genres in the Supplemental section.
What are some examples of an annotated bibliography in the various styles?
- Lone Star College’s Annotated Bibliography and MLA Style
- Tiffin University’s Creating an Annotated Bibliography in APA Style
- Eastern Nazarene College’s Annotated Bibliography: Chicago Style Annotations
Attributions
“Annotated Bibliography,” LibreText, CC BY-SA.