Follow these steps to write a quality annotated bibliography:
- Start with a source: You could annotate any credible source, like a book, a webpage, a journal article, a film, etc. Unless your instructor has requested you to find a particular source type, e.g., only journal articles.
- Correctly reference the source: Reference the source according to the style your instructor has requested, e.g., APA Style; MLA Style.
- Write the annotation: Annotations can be descriptive or evaluative. Check your assignment guidelines which type of annotation to compose.
- Descriptive Annotation: Summarizes the content of the publication, pointing out key topics, significant features, intended audience, etc.
- Evaluative Annotation: In addition to a description, offers a brief critical assessment of the publication, assessing its relevance, accuracy, reliability, or usefulness for a particular audience or purpose.
Include at least some of the following in the annotation:
- Author: Authority, experience, or qualifications of the author.
- Purpose: Why did the author write this?
- Scope: Breadth or depth of coverage, topics included, etc.
- Audience: For whom was it written (general public, subject specialists, students, etc.)?
- Viewpoint: What is the author’s perspective or approach (school of thought, etc.)? Do you detect an unacknowledged bias, or find any undefended assumptions?
- Sources: Does the author cite other sources, and if so, what types? Is it based on the author’s research? Is it a personal opinion piece? Etc.
- Conclusion: What does the author conclude? Does the work lead to this conclusion?
- Features: Any significant extras, e.g., visual aids (charts, maps, etc.), reprints of source documents, an annotated bibliography?
- Comparison: How does it relate to other works on the topic: does it agree or disagree with another author or a particular school of thought; are there other works which would support or dispute it?
- Format your annotated bibliography: Format your annotated bibliography in the writing style your instructor has requested, e.g., APA Style; MLA Style.
Derived from "How to Write an Annotated Bibliography" by Kendall Hobbs from Wesleyan University Library
