English/Composition

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 does the document discuss, 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.

• Each annotation should be one paragraph, between three to six sentences long (about 150-200 words).
• Start with the same format as a regular Works Cited list.
• All lines should be double-spaced. Do not add an extra line between the citations.
• If your list of citations is especially long you can organize it by topic.
• Try to be objective, and give explanations if you state any opinions.
• Use the third person (e.g. he, she, the author) instead of the first person (e.g. I, my, me).