Annotated Bibliography

What is an annotated bibliography? An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for books, articles, and other documents. Following each citation is a brief, descriptive, and evaluative paragraph or two about the source. The paragraph should include information about the source such as its accuracy, relevancy, and quality. Steps for creating an annotated bibliography: 1. Locate a variety of sources for your topic. Look through the sources and choose those that will be most useful. 2. Cite the book, article, or other document in the appropriate style (MLA, APA, Turabian, etc.). 3. Write a brief, evaluative annotation for each text. An annotation is a commentary or a critical explanation of a text. Annotations should be written in paragraph form. Each entry should include: a. Summary: Include a concise statement about the major theme or purpose of the text i. Summarize the main ideas, purpose, and arguments. b. Assessment: Give an assessment of the source. i. Look at author’s authority and intended audience ii. Compare/contrast with other sources in bibliography. Is the source biased or objective? c. Reflection: Give an explanation of how the source will be used in the paper. i. How is it helpful to you? ii. How does it affect your argument? **Annotated bibliographies may include some or all of these parts. Check with your professor for the specifics of your assignments.*