Pro Tips on How To Write an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents written as part of a research paper, with each

citation is followed by a brief (descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the

reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

Why write an annotated bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a great tool to help you organize your research. By writing an annotated bibliography, you can keep

track of the sources you have used in your research and the ones you still need to consult. In addition, an annotated bibliography

can provide valuable insights into the arguments of your paper and can help you spot potential flaws in your reasoning. Ultimately,

writing an annotated bibliography will make you a better researcher and writer.

Stepwise Guide on How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

There are two main types of annotated bibliographies:

Descriptive: These provide a summary of the source.

Evaluative: In addition to describing the content and purpose of the source, these also provide a critical assessment of the work.

As a student, you will likely be asked to create an annotated bibliography for your research paper. Here are some tips on how to

write one:

1. Start by gathering all of the sources you have used in your research. This includes books, articles, websites, etc. Take note of all

of the citation information for each source (author, title, date, publisher, etc.)

2. For each source, write a short description of what information you found and how you used it in your paper. Be sure to include

both positive and negative aspects of each work.

3. Organize your sources alphabetically by author’s last name. If there is no author listed, use the title of the work instead.

4. Write out each entry in full (rather than using abbreviations). Use hanging indentations so that each entry lines up correctly.

5. Check with your instructor for specific formatting requirements for your annotated bibliography.

What to Write in an Annotated Bibliography

Annotations should be indented a half inch from the left margin. Citations should be listed in alphabetical order. Authors’ names

are inverted (last name first); give the last name and initials for all authors of a particular work for up to and including seven

authors.

If more than seven authors are cited for a single work, list the first six authors followed by an ellipsis (). After the ellipsis,

list only the last author’s name. The basic form for each entry in an annotated bibliography is as follows:

1.lee, eunjoo anna . “kimchi.” korea observer 23.4 (1992): 587-592 .

In “Kimchi,” Eunjoo Anna Lee discusses different types of kimchi and provides instructions on how to make each one. This article

would be useful for anyone interested in Korean cuisine or culture.

2. yang, eun-young . “the art of kimchi making.” food culture 14.3 (2010): 32-40 .

Eun-Young Yang’s “The Art of Kimchi Making” provides that the research on food culture is more detailed than this.

The 3 parts of an annotated bibliography

There are three parts to an annotated bibliography:

1) The citation: This provides basic information about the source (author, title, etc.) using the chosen citation style (MLA or APA).

2) The annotation: This describes and evaluates the source. Annotations should be concise and clear; they should not exceed one

paragraph.

3) The Works Cited/References page: This lists all of the sources used in the paper in alphabetical order according to the author’s

last name.

Good topics to write an annotated bibliography on

There are many good topics to write an annotated bibliography on. This includes books, articles, and websites. When choosing a

topic, consider the scope of the assignment and the audience you are writing for.

Some popular topics to write an annotated bibliography on are:

-The Great Gatsby
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-The Catcher in the Rye
-The Grapes of Wrath
-The Scarlet Letter

How to start an annotated bibliography

When you are writing an annotated bibliography, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind. The first is that you

will want to choose your sources carefully. You will want to make sure that you select sources that are relevant to your topic and

that are reliable.

Once you have selected your sources, you will need to read them carefully and take notes. As you read, identify the main points of

each source and make a note of these. You should also make a note of any interesting or important information that you come

across.

After you have read and taken notes on your sources, it is time to start writing your annotations. For each source, write a brief

summary of the main points covered. You should also include your own thoughts and analysis of the source. Finally, you will want

to provide a citation for the source so that others can easily find it if they wish to read it themselves.

How to write an abstract for an annotated bibliography

An abstract is a summary of a body of work. An abstract for an annotated bibliography should briefly summarize each source in

order to provide readers with a sense of what will be discussed in the annotations that follow. In addition to summarizing the main

points of each source, the abstract should also explain how the source will be used in relation to the topic of your paper.

Keep in mind that your audience for an annotated bibliography will be other scholars who are familiar with the conventions of

academic writing; therefore, you do not need to explain basic terms or concepts in your abstract. Instead, focus on providing

enough information so that readers can decide whether or not to consult your annotated bibliography for further information on

your topic.

When writing your abstract, remember to:

– Use third person point of view
– Indicate why each source is relevant to your paper’s topic
– Summarize key points from each source
– Use active voice
– Be concise (usually no more than 250 words)

Annotated bibliography example

To create an annotated bibliography, start by finding a source (such as a book, article, or website). Then, create a citation for the

source in MLA format. Finally, write a brief annotation (about 4-6 sentences) that summarizes the key points of the source.

Here is an example of an annotated bibliography entry:

Smith, John. “Annotated Bibliography Example Paper.” The MLA Handbook. 8th ed., 2016, pp. 5-7.

Smith provides an overview of what an annotated bibliography is and how it can be used to help write a research paper. He

includes instructions on how to create citations for sources in MLA format, as well as how to write annotations for each source.

This is a helpful resource for students who are new to writing annotated bibliographies.

How to write an annotated bibliography in APA format

Annotations are written in either MLA or APA format. Your instructor will let you know which one to use. Here we will focus on

how to write an annotated bibliography in APA format.

APA format for annotated bibliographies can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th

edition (2010), pp. 210-211 (Chapter 7, Section 3.03).

Annotations usually include the following elements:

1. A citation in proper APA format;
2. A brief description of the content and focus of the source; and
3. An evaluation of the usefulness or applicability of the source for your paper or project.

In some cases, your instructor may also require you to include a summary or paraphrase of the source’s main points in addition to

or instead of an evaluation; check with your instructor if this is required for your assignment

How to Write an annotated bibliography MLA format

The MLA Handbook, Eighth Edition does not include guidelines for formatting an annotated bibliography. However, your

professor may assign an annotation in MLA style. The following format will be used:

Bibliographic information: This will be the same as a regular MLA Works Cited entry. Formatting instructions are available from

Purdue OWL’s MLA Guide. Be sure to consult your professor’s instructions when formatting your annotations.

Annotation: Begin each annotation with a heading that includes the author’s last name and the page number (if available). Indent

each subsequent line five spaces (or one Tab space). Your annotation should conclude with a period.

How to write an annotated bibliography Chicago format

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is most commonly used in history writing, so if you’re doing research in this discipline, you’ll

need to use the CMS citation format.

Here’s how to write an annotation using the Chicago Manual of Style format:

1. Start by listing the full citations for your sources in CMS style. Include all the required elements for each type of source (e.g.,

author names, publication dates, article titles, etc.).

2. After each citation, add a brief paragraph that summarizes and/or critically evaluates the source. Be sure to address the main

ideas and arguments presented in the work, as well as any strengths or weaknesses you identify. Depending on your assignment

requirements, you may also need to address the usefulness or relevance of the source for your research topic.

How to write a bibliography Turabian style

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing a bibliography in Turabian style:

1. Make sure to include all of the required information for each source. This includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the

date of publication, and the URL or other location where you found the source.

2. Each entry should be formatted according to Turabian style guidelines. This means that each entry should be flush left, with the

second and subsequent lines indented five spaces.

3. Be sure to alphabetize your entries by author’s last name. If you have multiple works by one author, then you can order them by

date of publication, with the most recent work first.

4. Finally, don’t forget to include annotations for each source! These should be brief (one or two sentences) summaries of what you

found most important or interesting about the source.

Read More…

FAQ