1. How to Write an Annotated Bibliography
Sage Library
Newbury Park High School

2. What is it?
An annotated bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic that includes a summary and evaluation of each of the sources.

3. Purpose
The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

4. Excellent Preparation
When you have to write annotations for each source, you're forced to read each source more carefully. You begin to read more critically instead of just collecting information.

5. Format of the citation MLA style
Double space and use the hanging indent.
Include a medium designation such as print or web.

6. Format of the annotation
Single space
Use the third person – do not use “I..”
Use the literary present tense.
Examples:
“This article discusses…”
“In this article the author supports…”
“This book gives a detailed view on…”
“This article describes…”

7. Format Source #1 Citation
One paragraph –specifically what was learned that further expanded ideas about my thesis or clarified questions about my book.
Paraphrased notes (page numbers from books)
Direct quotations – statements that are written in a way that they would lose impact if I tried to paraphrase (page numbers from books)
One paragraph - evaluation of the source – specifically why it was helpful