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What is an Annotated Bibliography?

  • What is an Annotated Bibliography This video is an overview of components of an annotated bibliography.

Useful Links for Annotated Bibliographies

  • Annotated Bibliographies Overview of purpose and form of annotated bibliographies from Purdue OWL.
  • Writing an Annotated Bibliography Overview and examples from the University of Guelph.
  • Writing an Annotated Bibliography Definition, tips, and examples from the University of Toronto.

Annotations

An  annotated bibliography  is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a Reference 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.

Annotated Bibliographies: How-To Guide

APA now has guidelines for an annotated bibliography. Annotations will be a new paragraph, indented 0.5" from the left .   

Below is a sample of an Evaluative Annotation:

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The OWL also provides guidance on creating an annotated bibliography, a common tool and assignment for graduate students.  Below are a few topics covered by the OWL.

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Annotated Bibliography

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  • Annotated Bibliographies Overview of purpose and form of annotated bibliographies from the Purdue OWL.
  • Writing an Annotated Bibliography Overview and examples from the University of Guelph.
  • Writing an Annotated Bibliography Definition, tips and examples from the University of Toronto.

How-To Guide

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  • How to create an annotated bibliography

Below is a sample of an Evaluative Annotation:

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  • Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Introduction

What is an annotated bibliography.

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 - 300 words) 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.

Annotations vs. Abstracts

Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. Annotations are descriptive and critical; they may describe the author's point of view, authority, or clarity and appropriateness of expression. They may also comment on the relevance of a source to your particular research. 

Types of annotations

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) breaks annotations into several categories:

  • Summarize : Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say? The length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is.
  • Assess : After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?
  • Reflect : Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?

Why write an annotated bibliography?

Writing an annotated bibliography is an excellent way to prepare for a research project. Writing a critical evaluation of each source requires you to read more carefully and thoroughly, and to collect resources more intentionally. Professional annotated bibliographies, which are often published, provide a comprehensive overview of important themes, issues, and arguments on a given topic. These can be useful for understanding the state of a particular field of study, and seeing where your research fits within it.

How to write an annotated bibliography

For each citation in your bibliography, write a short paragraph beneath it, and consider the following questions. The length of your annotation will depend on its purpose. A simple summary may be shorter than an annotation that contains analysis or evaluation:

  • Content -  What is the resource about? Is it relevant to your research?
  • Purpose -  What is it for? Why was this written?
  • Methods used to collect data -  Where did the information come from?
  • Usefulness -  What does it do for your research?
  • Reliability-  Is the information accurate?
  • Authority -  Is it written by an expert or knowledge keeper?
  • Currency -  Is it up-to-date for the topic?
  • Scope/Limitations -  What does it cover? What does the author state s/he will cover? What doesn't the resource provide that could be helpful?
  • Ease of use  - Can a non-specialist use this resource? What reading level is it?

Annotated bibliography examples in APA style:

Formatting an annotated bibliography is the same as formatting an APA reference list. You use the same author-date style and place the elements in the same order. Indent the annotation five spaces. You can find examples at the links below:

  • Purdue OWL examples
  • The Writing Center - UNC at Chapel Hill

This 14:48 minute video walks through the steps of writing and formatting your annotated bibliography, including a discussion of the three types of annotation. You can use the timestamps below to navigate to the various sections.

00:00 Introduction

00:33 What is an annotated bibliography?

1:15 Formatting annotated bibliography

5:35 Researching pro tips

7:28 Three types of annotations

Attribution

Content on this page adapted with permission from  Olin Library Reference, Research & Learning Services Cornell University Library  and  Cornish College of the Arts Library ; and Burkhardt J. M., MacDonald M. C. & Rathemacher A.J. (2010).  Teaching information literacy : 50 standards-based exercises for college students  (2nd ed.). American Library Association.

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Annotated Bibliography

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Annotated Bibliography

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An  annotated bibliography  is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a References 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.

Basic Tips on Formatting

  • Start with the same format as a regular References list.
  • The first line of the citation starts at the left margin and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches (hanging indent).
  • The annotation begins on a new line and is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.
  • Entries are double-spaced with no extra lines between entries.
  • If the annotation consists of more than one paragraph, indent the first line of each successive paragraph an additional 0.5 inches.
  • Use the third person (e.g., he, she, the author) instead of the first person (e.g., I, my, me).

Sample Evaluative Annotation

Maak, T. (2007). Responsible leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the emergence of social capital.  Journal of Business Ethics ,  74 , 329-343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9510-5

This article focuses on the role of social capital in responsible leadership. It looks at both the social networks that a leader builds within an organization, and the links that a leader creates with external stakeholders. Maak’s main aim with this article seems to be to persuade people of the importance of continued research into the abilities that a leader requires and how they can be acquired. The focus on the world of multinational business means that for readers outside this world many of the conclusions seem rather obvious (be part of the solution not part of the problem). In spite of this, the article provides useful background information on the topic of responsible leadership and definitions of social capital which are relevant to an analysis of a public servant.

Useful Links for Annotated Bibliographies

The formatting of annotated bibliographies can vary. The University Libraries recommend the format exhibited in the examples below, but if you are still unsure what format to use, ask your professor. 

  • Includes a sample of one APA annotation (from the Purdue OWL).
  • A guide covering the basics of writing an annotated bibliography.
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VII. Researched Writing

7.6 Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Emilie Zickel; Melanie Gagich; and Terri Pantuso

As you are gathering sources in your research, you will want to keep track of which information comes from what source. While other strategies have been discussed such as note taking, some researchers use an annotated bibliography for long term reference purposes. As the name implies, an annotated bibliography is the bibliographical reference of a given source along with key information from that source that you may use for future reference. As assignment parameters will vary by instructor, generally speaking the annotations are 150-200 words in length per source and do not include quoted material. The purpose of the annotations is to summarize the material within the context of your thesis statement.

Annotated Bibliographies follow a common structure and format. Below is an explanation of the elements and format of an annotated bibliography.

Components of an Annotated Bibliography

An annotation often offers a summary of a source that you intend to use for a research project as well as some assessment of the source’s relevance to your project or quality and credibility. There are two key components for each source: the citation and the annotation.

The Annotated Bibliography Samples page [1]  on the Purdue OWL offers examples of general formatting guidelines for both an MLA and an APA Annotated Bibliography.

You will provide the full bibliographic reference for the source: author, title, source title, and other required information depending on the type of source. This will be formatted just as it would be in a typical Works Cited for an MLA paper or a References page for an APA paper.

Tone and Style

Some elements can vary depending on the style you are using (e.g., APA or MLA). Be sure to review your style guide along with your assignment sheet. Generally speaking, use the following as a guide:

  • Use signal phrases to refer to the author(s).
  • Always maintain a neutral tone and use the third-person point of view and correct tense according to style guide (present tense for MLA, past tense for APA) (i.e., Tompkins asserts… ).
  • Keep the focus of the summary on the text, not on what you think of it, and try to put as most of the summary as you can in your own words. If you must use exact phrases from the source that you are summarizing, you must quote and cite them.
  • Annotations should not be a replication of the abstract provided by the source.

What to Include in Annotations

  • After the bibliographical information, begin to discuss the source. Begin with a general summary of the source. Describe the key sections of the text and their corresponding main points. Try to avoid focusing on details; a summary covers the essential points and typically does not include quoted material.
  • Evaluate the source’s credibility or relevance. Is the author an expert on the topic? How do you know? Is the source peer-reviewed or otherwise credible in nature? How do you know? What makes this source a good one to use?
  • Discuss how you plan to integrate the source in your paper. Do you need to point out similarities or differences with other sources in the annotated bibliography? How does it support (or refute) your intended thesis?

Review your Annotated Bibliography assignment sheet for additional content requirements . Instructors often require more than a simple summary of each source, and specific requirements may vary. Any (or all) of these aspects may be required in an annotated bibliography, depending on how or if your instructor has designed this assignment as part of a larger research project.

This section contains material from:

Gagich, Melanie, and Emilie Zickel. “Keeping Track of Your Sources and Writing an Annotated Bibliography.” In A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing . Cleveland: MSL Academic Endeavors. Accessed July 2019. https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/chapter/annotated-bibliography/ . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

OER credited in the text above includes:

Jeffrey, Robin. About Writing: A Guide . Portland, OR: Open Oregon Educational Resources. Accessed December 18, 2020. https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/aboutwriting/ . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

  • "Annotated Bibliography Samples," Purdue Online Writing Lab, accessed December 20, 2021, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.html . ↵

A statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes an argument that will later be explained, expanded upon, and developed in a longer essay or research paper. In undergraduate writing, a thesis statement is often found in the introductory paragraph of an essay. The plural of thesis is theses .

7.6 Writing an Annotated Bibliography Copyright © 2022 by Emilie Zickel; Melanie Gagich; and Terri Pantuso is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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In this section

Subsections.

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography - APA Style (7th Edition)

What is an annotation, how is an annotation different from an abstract, what is an annotated bibliography, types of annotated bibliographies, descriptive or informative, analytical or critical, to get started.

An annotation is more than just a brief summary of an article, book, website, or other type of publication. An annotation should give enough information to make a reader decide whether to read the complete work. In other words, if the reader were exploring the same topic as you, is this material useful and if so, why?

While an abstract also summarizes an article, book, website, or other type of publication, it is purely descriptive. Although annotations can be descriptive, they also include distinctive features about an item. Annotations can be evaluative and critical as we will see when we look at the two major types of annotations.

An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources (like a reference list). It differs from a straightforward bibliography in that each reference is followed by a paragraph length annotation, usually 100–200 words in length.

Depending on the assignment, an annotated bibliography might have different purposes:

  • Provide a literature review on a particular subject
  • Help to formulate a thesis on a subject
  • Demonstrate the research you have performed on a particular subject
  • Provide examples of major sources of information available on a topic
  • Describe items that other researchers may find of interest on a topic

There are two major types of annotated bibliographies:

A descriptive or informative annotated bibliography describes or summarizes a source as does an abstract; it describes why the source is useful for researching a particular topic or question and its distinctive features. In addition, it describes the author's main arguments and conclusions without evaluating what the author says or concludes.

For example:

McKinnon, A. (2019). Lessons learned in year one of business.  Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting ,  30 (4), 26–28. This article describes some of the difficulties many nurses experience when transitioning from nursing to a legal nurse consulting business. Pointing out issues of work-life balance, as well as the differences of working for someone else versus working for yourself, the author offers their personal experience as a learning tool. The process of becoming an entrepreneur is not often discussed in relation to nursing, and rarely delves into only the first year of starting a new business. Time management, maintaining an existing job, decision-making, and knowing yourself in order to market yourself are discussed with some detail. The author goes on to describe how important both the nursing professional community will be to a new business, and the importance of mentorship as both the mentee and mentor in individual success that can be found through professional connections. The article’s focus on practical advice for nurses seeking to start their own business does not detract from the advice about universal struggles of entrepreneurship makes this an article of interest to a wide-ranging audience.

An analytical or critical annotation not only summarizes the material, it analyzes what is being said. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of what is presented as well as describing the applicability of the author's conclusions to the research being conducted.

Analytical or critical annotations will most likely be required when writing for a college-level course.

McKinnon, A. (2019). Lessons learned in year one of business.  Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting ,  30 (4), 26–28. This article describes some of the difficulty many nurses experience when transitioning from nursing to a nurse consulting business. While the article focuses on issues of work-life balance, the differences of working for someone else versus working for yourself, marketing, and other business issues the author’s offer of only their personal experience is brief with few or no alternative solutions provided. There is no mention throughout the article of making use of other research about starting a new business and being successful. While relying on the anecdotal advice for their list of issues, the author does reference other business resources such as the Small Business Administration to help with business planning and professional organizations that can help with mentorships. The article is a good resource for those wanting to start their own legal nurse consulting business, a good first advice article even. However, entrepreneurs should also use more business research studies focused on starting a new business, with strategies against known or expected pitfalls and issues new businesses face, and for help on topics the author did not touch in this abbreviated list of lessons learned.

Now you are ready to begin writing your own annotated bibliography.

  • Choose your sources - Before writing your annotated bibliography, you must choose your sources. This involves doing research much like for any other project. Locate records to materials that may apply to your topic.
  • Review the items - Then review the actual items and choose those that provide a wide variety of perspectives on your topic. Article abstracts are helpful in this process.
  • The purpose of the work
  • A summary of its content
  • Information about the author(s)
  • For what type of audience the work is written
  • Its relevance to the topic
  • Any special or unique features about the material
  • Research methodology
  • The strengths, weaknesses or biases in the material

Annotated bibliographies may be arranged alphabetically or chronologically, check with your instructor to see what he or she prefers.

Please see the  APA Examples page  for more information on citing in APA style.

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Annotated Bibliographies

Sample apa annotated bibliography, what is an annotated bibliography, purpose of an annotated bibliography, video: annotated bibliography formatting (apa 7).

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References are written and formatted normally, but directly underneath each reference is the summary/annotation for the reference. Every line of this annotation is indented 5 spaces more than the 2nd line of the reference itself.

An annotated bibliography is a list of references with an added feature - a paragraph below each reference called an annotation.

An annotation may include the following information:

  • Assessment (also called Evaluation )

Your instructor will explain the details she/he wants included in an annotation for a specific assignment.

The annotations for each source are written in paragraph form. The length of the annotations can vary depending on the purpose and your instructor's directions.

Information adapted from the Annotated Bibliographies created by the OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Depending on the assignment, the annotated bibliography may serve a number of purposes, including but not limited to:

  • A review of the literature on a particular subject
  • Illustrate the quality of research that you have done
  • Provide examples of the types of sources available
  • Describe other items on a topic that may be of interest to the reader
  • Explore the subject for further research

Always ask your instructor what she wants you to include and if there are any formatting guidelines she would like followed.

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What is an annotated bibliography? 

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to sources, such as books and articles. Each citation is followed by an annotation, a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, about 150 words long, that analyzes the source. An annotated bibliography usually looks like any other bibliography with alphabetized citations of sources, except that here each source is followed by an explanatory paragraph. This work can form the basis of a literature review later in the writing process. The purpose of the annotation is to inform on the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

What isn't an annotated bibliography? 

An annotation is not only a summary of the source in question. It should be a short but critical analysis as to why and how the source fits into the larger research question. An abstract functions as a summary, an annotation should be contextual to the specific topic at hand. It should be both descriptive and evaluative. 

Types of annotations: 

  • Descriptive: states the topic of the source only
  • Evaluative: evaluates the source, which may include placing the work in context of other research or evaluating its usefulness. This is the type expected for most research assignments. 
  • Summary: summarizes the source but does not take a stance or make an argument about the source.

What about formatting?

Most of the major citation styles call for a  hanging first line  on annotated bibliographies. This means the first line of the citation will align with the left margin of the page, and all subsequent lines of the citation and annotation will indent to the right.

Example of an Annotated Citation using the Ecology Journal Style

Patra, A., Park, T., Kim, M. and Yu, Z. (2017). Rumen methanogens and mitigation of methane emission by anti-methanogenic compounds and substances.   J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol.   8 , 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-017-0145-9

This study reviews some of the work through 2017 identifying ruminal methanogens and the in vivo and in vitro effects of anti-methanogenic compounds. Of specific interest is the summary of evidence suggesting that archaea make up only ~10% of the ruminal microbiome (see "Overview of methanogens present in the rumen"). Also of note, this paper cites work indicating many rumen ciliate protozoa have ecto- and endo-associated methanogenic archaea (see "Methanogens associated with rumen protozoa"). However, most ruminal methanogens are "free-living" (i.e. not protozoa-associated; see "Free-living ruminal methanogens").

[ Depending on your device and browser, the proper hanging first line may or may not be visible here. ]

To export a bibliography from EndNote with this format, see " Exporting a Bibliography From EndNote " on the " EndNote Resources For Bio195N " page of this guide.

Alternatively, to create this format in Word, see 

Open Format  > Paragraph

Alternatively, highlight the text, right-click and select Paragraph .

Under Indentation , there is a drop down menu for Special options. This includes the Hanging First Line . 

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Creating an Annotated Bibliography

  • What is an Annotated Bibliography

Writing an Annotation

Formatting an annotated bibliography.

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Components of an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is an APA reference list that includes a brief summary and analysis -- the annotation --  under the reference entry.  

An annotated bibliography includes:

  • APA Title page
  • Pages are numbered beginning with title page
  • References centered and bolded at top of page
  • Entries listed in alphabetical order
  • Annotations begin under its associated reference
  • Annotations are indented 0.5 inches from the left margin
  • The entire document is double spaced; no extra space between entries

Example of an annotated bibliography entry:

annotated bibliography apa owl purdue

An  an n otated bibliography is composed of the full APA reference for a source followed by notes and commentary about that so urce. T he word  “annotate” means “critical or explanatory notes” and the word “bibliography” means “a list of sources”.  Annotation s are meant to be critical in addition to being descriptive.

Annotations are generally between five to seven sentences in length and appear directly under the APA reference.  The entire annotation is indented 0.5 inch from the left margin and lines up with the hanging indent of the APA reference.

Use the question prompts below as a guide when writing annotations:

• 2 to 4 sentences to  summarize   the main idea(s) of the source.

     - What are the main arguments?

     - What is the point of this book/article?

     - What topics are covered?

• 1 or 2 sentences to  assess   and  evaluate   the source.

     - How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography?

     - Is this information reliable? current?

     - Is the author credible? have the background to write on this topic?

     - Is the source objective or biased?

• 1 or 2 sentences to  reflect   on the source.

     - Was this source helpful to you?

     - How can you use this source for your research project?

     - Has it changed how you think about your topic?

  • a title page, and
  • the annotated bibliography which begins on its own page with the word References bolded and centered at the top of the page.

Each entry begins with an APA reference for the resource with the annotation appearing directly beneath. The entire annotation is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.

Entries are listed in alphabetical order. The entire document is typed on one of the six approved font styles and sizes and is double spaced.  There is no additional space between entires.

Consider using Academic Writer or NoodleTools to create and format your annotated bibliography.  

annotated bibliography apa owl purdue

APA Citation Style Resources and Tools

Apa academic writer.

Use the tools in the  References tab to create APA references for the resources in your annotated bibliography.  The form includes a text box for your annotation.  You can create your title page and assemble your annotated bibliography in the Write tab in this authoritative resource.

  • APA Academic Writer This link opens in a new window Formerly APA Style Central, Academic Writer is a digital library of quick APA guides and tutorials: - Learn - view videos and tutorials, test your APA knowledge with quizzes, and view sample papers, references, tables, and figures. - Reference - view tutorials, search APA dictionaries, develop research ideas, plan and track your research, and manage your references. - Write - use templates to write papers (includes step-by-step help), and work on saved papers. (Must create a personal account to use.)

Create and format your annotated bibliography in NoodleTools .  Find information on how to create an account, create APA references, and creating and formatting an annotated bibliography in the NoodleTools Guide.

  • NoodleTools Guide

This video below provides an overview of how to create an annotated bibliography including evaluating resources, writing annotations, creating APA references, and formatting the final document in the APA style. 

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The Annotated Bibliography

annotated bibliography apa owl purdue

How to Make an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a bibliography [a list of the sources- like articles & books- referred to in a scholarly work] that gives a summary of each of the entries. The purpose of annotations is to provide the reader with a summary and an evaluation of the source. Each summary should be a concise exposition of the source's central idea(s) and give the reader a general idea of the source's content.

Source: The Free Dictionary

Contents include:

  • Summary : Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say? The length of your annotations will determine how detailed your summary is.  Who is the intended audience?
  • Assessment : After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?
  • Evaluation : Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?
  • Information on the author(s) : What is the author's authority? What are their qualifications?

Source: The OWL, Annotated Bibliographies.

More Annotated Bibliography Examples:

(These are links to electronic articles/annotated bibliographies found through the UTEP Library online catalog)

Conte, S. (2015). Learning Community Literature: Annotated Bibliography. New Directions For Student Services , (149), 91-100.  Retrieved from: http://0-search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=101557586&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Cox, M. B., & Faris, M. J. (2015). An Annotated Bibliography of LGBTQ Rhetorics. Present Tense: A Journal Of Rhetoric In Society , 4 (2). Retrieved from: http://www.presenttensejournal.org/volume-4/an-annotated-bibliography-of-lgbtq-rhetorics/ 

Johnson, D. E., Schroder, S. I., Erickson, J. P., & Grimes, K. N. (2008). Annotated Bibliography on the Teaching of Psychology: 2007. Teaching Of Psychology , 35 (4), 376-384. doi:10.1080/00986280802390811 Retrieved from: http://0-search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=35052650&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Masschelein, A., Meurée, C., Martens, D., Vanasten, S., & Willem, G. (2014). The Literary Interview: An Annotated Bibliography. Poetics Today , 35 (1/2), 51-116. doi:10.1215/03335372-2646854 Retrieved from : http://0-poeticstoday.dukejournals.org.lib.utep.edu/content/35/1-2/51.full.pdf+html?sid=fe54194d-1a61-456d-8a75-1e22d6184258

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Annotated Bibliographies

  • Sample: MLA Style
  • Sample: APA Style

Formats for MLA Citations

There is a separate format for citing each of the types of content that contribute to your research. Do not be overwhelmed! Use one of the websites below, and just copy methodically from their examples until you become familiar with the process. Time consuming at first and frankly picky beyond belief, but it will get easier.

  • Purdue OWL MLA Works Cited Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) is easy to navigate and very complete instructions.

What is it?

An annotated bibliography consists of two elements : the bibliography and the annotations. These two elements are blended together: each citation is followed by an annotation.

The bibliography is a list of works cited in MLA, APA or another citation style; the annotations describe responses to the content; can be long or short. Their purpose is to make clear to a reader what was in the article or book cited and in some cases, the researcher's response to it.

This response should reflect the researcher's larger purpose in composing the bibliography. A typical annotation consists of:

  • a summary of the content  
  • relevance of the cited work to the research topic 
  • whether the authors of the cited work achieved their goal 
  • whether the material was either inadequate or original and groundbreaking, and why.

All these elements are not required however . It is up to you to decide what to include.

The form of the annotation is a piece of prose writing . It may help to think of it as a narrative of your response to the article or book you read.

Make sure you find out from your instructors what citation style they require. Set up your works cited list accordingly, and insert the annotations following each entry.

Examples in MLA Style

The citations and formatting of the bibliography should follow the current MLA Style guide , which is the 9th edition. Your instructor may prefer an earlier edition, so find out before you start.

Annotated Bibliography  

Book by one author: (note, the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.)

Vickery, Amanda.  The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England. Yale University Press,   1998 .

The Gentleman's Daughter provides an account of the lives of genteel women - the daughters of merchants, the wives of lawyers and the sisters of gentlemen. Based on a study of the letters, diaries and account books of over 100 women from commercial, professional and gentry families, mainly in provincial England, this book provides an account of the lives of genteel women in Georgian times. It challenges the currently influential view that the period witnessed a new division of the everyday worlds of privileged men and women into the separate spheres of home and work.

Works Cited List, (bibliography)

Book by one author:

Vickery, Amanda. The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England . Yale University Press, 1998.

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Updated: video tutorials on apa 7th. ed..

UPDATED: APA Basics and Sample Student Papers

This American Psychological Association tutorial introduces students to APA Style, including formatting papers, citing sources, and references.

For student papers, the first page of an APA style paper is the title page. This should include in order:

  • Title of paper, capitalized. For example: Branching Paths: A Novel Teacher Evaluation Model for Faculty Development
  • Author's name and institution or school
  • Course number and name. For example: ENGL 105
  • Instructor name. For example: Dr./Instructor James Khachikian
  • Assignment due date. For example: December 12, 2021

After the title page, APA style student papers include the abstract. An abstract is the summary of the paper and the main ideas presented. The abstract page should be numbered and have the same running header. The page should have the Abstract, in bold font centered on the page . The abstract text should be in an accessible font like 12-point Times News Roman . It should be followed by Keywords, italicized . The keywords should be the main ideas from your paper.

HEADERS 

APA style papers must use specific formatting for headers. Each level of headers must be followed as outlined below.

Chart from the APA Headings website .

  • UPDATED: Sample Student Paper in APA Format This sample paper is from the official APA website. This is an updated version per the 7th edition of the APA Manual.
  • UPDATED: Sample Annotated Student Paper in APA Format This sample paper is from the official APA website. This is an updated version per the 7th edition of the APA Manual.

UPDATED: GCC Library's Guide to APA Style

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From Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)

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  1. "Annotated Bibliography" (Brief Description/Instructions)

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  3. Writing an Annotated Bibliography MLA and APA 2023

  4. APA 7th Edition: References Lists

  5. Citations: A Beginning (1/24/24)

  6. Research Bites: Annotated Bibliographies

COMMENTS

  1. Annotated Bibliographies

    Definitions A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, Web sites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic. Bibliographies are sometimes called "References" or "Works Cited" depending on the style format you are using.

  2. Annotated Bibliography Samples

    Overview Below you will find sample annotations from annotated bibliographies, each with a different research project. Remember that the annotations you include in your own bibliography should reflect your research project and/or the guidelines of your assignment.

  3. Creating an Annotated Bibliography

    Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides guidance on creating an annotated bibliography. Below are a few topics covered by the OWL. Annotated Bibliographies - Definitions & Format Annotated Bibliography Breakdown Annotated Bibliography Samples Last Edited: Nov 10, 2023 3:32 PM URL: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/EDCI_63800 Print Page

  4. Annotated Bibliography Breakdown

    Who is the author? Is she qualified in this subject? Is this source scholarly, popular, some of both? The length of your annotation will depend on the assignment or on the purpose of your annotated bibliography. After summarizing and assessing, you can now reflect on this source. How does it fit into your research? Is this a helpful resource?

  5. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    Basic Rules Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.) Articles in Periodicals

  6. Two Minute Tips for Education Students

    An annotated bibliography is... a list of citations to books, articles, and documents in an appropriate style format i.e.,APA, Chicago Manual of Style, etc. with brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraphs -- the annotations (or abstracts).

  7. General Format

    General APA Guidelines Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. Include a page header (also known as the "running head") at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number.

  8. APA Style Introduction

    APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 7 th edition of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page.

  9. LibGuides: APA Style 7th Edition: Annotated Bibliography

    Overview of purpose and form of annotated bibliographies from Purdue OWL. Writing an Annotated Bibliography Overview and examples from the University of Guelph. Writing an Annotated Bibliography Definition, tips, and examples from the University of Toronto. Annotations

  10. Purdue Online Writing Lab

    The OWL also provides guidance on creating an annotated bibliography, a common tool and assignment for graduate students. Below are a few topics covered by the OWL. Annotated Bibliographies - Definitions & Format

  11. Annotated Bibliography

    From the Purdue OWL. Annotations An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a Reference list but includes an annotation after each source cited. An annotation is a short summary and/or critical evaluation of a source.

  12. APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Annotated Bibliography

    Overview of purpose and form of annotated bibliographies from the Purdue OWL. Writing an Annotated Bibliography Overview and examples from the University of Guelph. Writing an Annotated Bibliography Definition, tips and examples from the University of Toronto. How-To Guide APA Annotated Bibliography Template How to create an annotated bibliography

  13. Writing an Annotated Bibliography

    The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) breaks annotations into several categories: Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say?

  14. APA Formatting and Style Guide

    General APA Guidelines. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5 X 11 inches) with margins of 1 inch on all sides. Your final essay should include, in the order indicated below, as many of the following sections as are applicable, each of which should begin on a separate page:

  15. APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Annotated Bibliography

    Includes a sample of one APA annotation (from the Purdue OWL). University Libraries Annotated Bibliography Quick How-To A guide covering the basics of writing an annotated bibliography.

  16. PDF Purdue OWL Guide to Annotated bibliographies

    Summary: This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS. Annotated Bibliographies Definitions A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic.

  17. 7.6 Writing an Annotated Bibliography

    The Annotated Bibliography Samples page [1] on the Purdue OWL offers examples of general formatting guidelines for both an MLA and an APA Annotated Bibliography. Citation. You will provide the full bibliographic reference for the source: author, title, source title, and other required information depending on the type of source.

  18. APA Style (7th Edition)

    APA Headings and Seriation; APA PowerPoint Slide Presentation; APA Sample Paper; Tables and Figures; Abbreviations APA Classroom Poster; Changes in the 7th Edition; General APA FAQs; APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition) Suggested Resources Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises. Purdue OWL; Research and ...

  19. Annotated Bibliography

    Annotated Bibliography - definition: A list of sources accompanied by a brief summary or critical statement about each source.

  20. How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

    UMGC Library Website How to Write an Annotated Bibliography - APA Style (7th Edition) Home What is an annotation? An annotation is more than just a brief summary of an article, book, website, or other type of publication. An annotation should give enough information to make a reader decide whether to read the complete work.

  21. Library Guides: APA Help (7th Ed): Annotated Bibliographies

    An annotated bibliography is a list of references with an added feature - a paragraph below each reference called an annotation. Your instructor will explain the details she/he wants included in an annotation for a specific assignment. The annotations for each source are written in paragraph form. The length of the annotations can vary ...

  22. Getting Started With Annotated Bibliographies

    An explanation of annotated bibliographies from Purdue OWL, including examples in MLA, APA, and CSE styles. ... An annotated bibliography usually looks like any other bibliography with alphabetized citations of sources, except that here each source is followed by an explanatory paragraph. This work can form the basis of a literature review ...

  23. RasGuides: APA 7th Edition Guide: Annotated Bibliographies

    An annotated bibliography includes: APA Title page. Pages are numbered beginning with title page. APA formatted reference list beginning on own page. References centered and bolded at top of page. Entries listed in alphabetical order. Annotations begin under its associated reference. Annotations are indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.

  24. Annotated Bibliography

    An annotated bibliography is a bibliography [a list of the sources- like articles & books- referred to in a scholarly work] that gives a summary of each of the entries. The purpose of annotations is to provide the reader with a summary and an evaluation of the source. Each summary should be a concise exposition of the source's central idea(s) and give the reader a general idea of the source's ...

  25. LibGuides: Annotated Bibliographies: Sample: MLA Style

    Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) is easy to navigate and very complete instructions. ... An annotated bibliography consists of two elements: the bibliography and the annotations. These two elements are blended together: each citation is followed by an annotation. The bibliography is a list of works cited in MLA, APA or another citation style ...

  26. Welcome to the Purdue OWL Annotated Bibliographies

    1/8/2015 Purdue OWL Welcome to the Purdue OWL This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/). When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice at bottom. Contributors:Dana Bisignani, Allen Brizee. Summary: This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

  27. APA 7th edition

    UPDATED: APA Style Guide from OWL Purdue & Other Resources. From Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) UPDATED: APA Style, 7th edition. Citing AI/ChatGPT. ... Resources for students on writing and formatting annotated bibliographies, response papers, and other paper types as well as guidelines on citing course materials Dedicated chapter ...