What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of sources or reference materials organized in a “works cited” or bibliographical format with each citation containing an “annotation” or brief summary/evaluation/critique of the reference material.
What is the purpose of an annotated bibliography?
Annotated bibliographies are written for a variety of situations, but all of them have a common purpose—to inform an audience of the content, point of view, accuracy, and relevancy of the information in the cited source. Some reasons writers/researchers prepare annotated bibliographies follow:
to organize research materials in preparation for writing
to review literature on a particular subject
to summarize references used in a research paper/article
to indicate personal knowledge of the works cited
to provide possible directions for related research on a topic
What information is contained in the annotation?
An annotation is usually very brief (no more than 150 words) and is written as one or two brief paragraphs. The content of the annotation depends on its purpose. Most, however, contain, at least, a summary of the content of the work and your response to that content. In addition, annotations often include some of the following:
a description of the audience the material was meant for
a discussion of how useful the material was
if the material was research-oriented, a discussion of how well the research was carried out and of the methods used
a review of the author’s background and credentials
a discussion of suggested uses of the material
a explanation of useful materials such as maps, charts, photographs, etc.
Most writers know ahead of time whether or not they need to create an annotated bibliography and what its purpose will be. It will be helpful, then, to decide before reading books and articles what kind of information you will need to include in your annotations and to keep that in mind while you are reading your materials. Analyze what you’re reading for purpose, audience, authority, and all the other elements listed above.
How does an annotated bibliography look?
An annotated bibliography looks just like any other bibliography you would put together for a research project. You must decide (or your teacher will tell you) what citation format you should use—MLA style, APA style, CBE style, Chicago, etc. And, like “regular” bibliographies, you will most often arrange your citations in alphabetical order. So, really, the only difference in the “look” of your finished product will be that an annotation will appear after the citation material.
Listed here is an entry from the book The Best Years of Their Lives: A Resource Guide for Teenagers in Crisis by Stephanie Zvirin. It uses the APA style.
Bernstein, Joanne E., and Byrna J. Fireside. Special Parents, Special Children. 1991. Morton Grove, Ill.: Albert Whitman (0-8075-7559-3). Ages 9-13.
What's it like to live with parents who are physically challenged? Sixth grader Lisa Kavanaugh, seventh grader Angela Stewart, fourth grader Adam Holdsworth, and high-school sophomore Stephanie Rigert can tell you. They each have at least one parent who has to cope with a physical disability. John Kavanaugh is blind; the Stewarts are both deaf; Adam's father cannot walk; and Connie and Bob Rigert are achondroplastic dwarfs. Black-and-white photographs personalize family profiles in which parents describe the discrimination they've experienced and what their daily lives are like, while their kids talk about family relationships, personal goals, and the frustrations of living with parents who are different. The terminology is not always politically correct, but that won't matter to most readers. What they'll really care about are the strength and optimism that shine through the unusual family portraits.
The following citation is taken from the page of Dr. Janet Hiles of Samford University, http://www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/english/hiles/annotate.htm , on writing a "Model Annotated Bibliography" in MLA Style.
Leech, Clifford. Shakespeare: The Chronicles. London: Longmans, 1962.
According to Leech, Shakespeare's "rogue," Falstaff, appeals to the reader as "the eternal child," the "traditional figure of the Fool," and
"the personification of the threat of disorder" (67-70). After his father's death, Henry V resolves to "rule by law," thus necessitating his
dissociation from his former companions, especially Falstaff (72). II Henry IV, when viewed didactically, shows "the danger of rebellion,
the need for discipline," and the common good that occurs when governmental leaders submit to the confines of the law (80).
Annotated bibliographies are as individualized in style as any written product, so you should not try to write them in a “voice” that is not comfortable to you. However, since length is usually an issue, attempt to concentrate on meaning/content rather than on writing in a flowery, descriptive style. And, as with all writing, consider your audience and your purpose.
Are there other resources with information about and examples of annotated bibliographies?
Yes. Following is a limited list of related Internet sites. If you would like to do your own search, you might begin by using the phrases “annotated bibliography” and “how to” in your search engine.
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_annotatedbib.html
http://www.western.edu/lib/guides/annbib.pdf
For general information on MLA and APA styles, see the Learning Resources website at the following:
MLA http://www.tridenttech.edu/4730_4679.htm
APA http://www.tridenttech.edu/4730_4668.htm
And, as always, if you need assistance with your annotated bibliography or with any other information question, contact the LRC reference desk at 574-6096.
