An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a Works Cited page but includes an annotation after each source cited. An annotation is a short summary and/or critical evaluation of a source. Annotated bibliographies can be part of a larger research project, or can be a stand-alone report in itself.
Types of Annotations
A summary annotation describes the source by answering the following questions: who wrote the document, what the document discusses, when and where was the document written, why was the document produced, and how was it provided to the public. The focus is on description.
An evaluative annotation includes a summary as listed above but also critically assesses the work for accuracy, relevance, and quality. Evaluative annotations can help you learn about your topic, develop a thesis statement, decide if a specific source will be useful for your assignment, and determine if there is enough valid information available to complete your project. The focus is on description and evaluation. For our purposes in this class, we will always use the evaluative annotation for our annotated bibliographies.
Tips for writing an Evaluative Annotated Bib:
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Cite the source using MLA style.
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Describe the main ideas, arguments, themes, theses, or methodology, and identify the intended audience of the source
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Explain the author’s expertise, point of view, and any bias he/she may have.
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Compare to other sources you have cited to show similarities/ differences.
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Explain why each source is useful for your research topic and how it relates to your topic.
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Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source.
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Identify the observations or conclusions of the author.
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Each annotation should be one paragraph, with NO LESS than 200 words.
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Start with the same format as a regular Works Cited list.
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Each entry is single spaced but should be double spaced between each entry
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If your list of citations is especially long, you can organize it by topic.
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Try to be objective, and give explanations if you state any opinions.