What is it?
An annotated bibliography is a list of sources that focus on the essay topic and the direction the author wants to take the essay. It is typically a list of materials compiled from different types of sources including, but not limited to newspaper articles, encyclopedia entries, scholarly or reputable websites, books, journal articles, or interviews. Each source is cited appropriately and correctly. Each entry ties specifically to the main idea of the essay. It should include specific information that is relevant to the point the section of the essay is making, rather than giving a generic summary of the entire article or text. Consider analyzing the information, and evaluating it to how it pertains to the point the essay will attempt to make.
How to Format an Annotated Bibliography:
Step 1: Compile the bibliography information
Step 2: Write a paragraph for each source material explaining:
Briefly summarize the main points of the source.
Analyze the content. Consider why this is important information for your essay.
Ask questions. How does this information direction correlate to your research question?
Example of an Annotated Bibliography:
Remember, an annotated bibliography consists of bibliographical entries along with an annotation. An annotation is a note or comment added about a text that may include a summary of the information contained in the work, an assessment or evaluation of the material, and a reflection on how this entry may be useful in the development of the research project. Each annotation does not need to include all three of these notes, but each does require the information necessary to remember why the entry is important.
