Annotated Bibliographies

Definitions: Bibliography: a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic. Also known as “References” (APA) or “Works Cited” (MLA). Annotation: is a summary and/or evaluation.

So…. An Annotated Bibliography is an organized list of sources which is followed by an annotation or description/evaluation of each item.

Why do an Annotated Bibliography? To prepare for a research project It forces you to not just collect your sources but to read each source carefully. At a professional level, it allows you to see what has been done in the literature.

Why? To help you formulate a thesis since it helps you gain a good perspective about your topic. To prove that you have done some valid research to back up your argument. It makes your work CREDIBLE.

The Format: The bibliographic information such as the title, author, publisher, date, etc. written in either MLA or APA format. The annotations are written in paragraph form. The lengths can vary from a couple of sentences to a couple of pages.

The Format (MLA): Title your annotated bibliography “Annotated Bibliography” or “Annotated List of Works Cited.” Arrange the citations in alphabetical order by the first element of the citation, usually the author’s last name. Following MLA format, use a hanging indent for your bibliographic information. (This means the first line is NOT indented and all the other lines are indented four spaces).

The Format (MLA) cont’d: Begin your annotation immediately after the bibliographic information of the source ends; don’t skip a line down UNLESS you have been told to do so by your teacher. As with every other part of an MLA formatted essay, the bibliography is double spaced, both within the citation and between them. Do not add an extra line between the citations. To view these annotations with correct formatting, set your preferences so that the font size is 12 or medium

The Format (APA): See the UNC Libraries citation tutorial for basic APA bibliography formatting and rules.citation tutorial Annotated bibliographies for APA format do not require a special title. Use the usual "References" designation. Like MLA, APA uses a hanging indent: the first line is set flush with the left margin, and all other lines are indented four spaces (you may ask your instructor if it's okay to tab over instead of using four spaces).

The Format (APA) cont’d: Double space the entire page including between citations and annotations After the bibliographic citation, drop down to the next line to begin the annotation, but don't skip an extra line. The entire annotation is indented an additional two spaces, so that means each of its lines will be six spaces from the margin (if your instructor has said that it's okay to tab over instead of using the four spaces rule, indent the annotation two more spaces in from that point).

An example in MLA and APA format: How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliographies: Annotated Bibliography Samples - The OWL at Purdue Annotated Bibliographies: Annotated Bibliography Samples - The OWL at Purdue

Where to I start? Locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Choose those works that provide a variety of views on your topic and are from a variety of sources. Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style (MLA, APA etc.) Write a concise annotation that summarizes the general theme and scope of the book or article.

What do I do in the annotation? 1. Summarize: What are the main arguments? What is the point of this book or article (thesis)? What topics are covered? How and where did you find it? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what would you say? Paraphrase.

After summarizing, you need to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is it current? Is the information reliable? Evaluate the methods (research) used.Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of the source? Is the author credible? 2. Assess :

3. Reflect: Also 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? Does it support or refute your question? Are there any relevant links to other work done in this area? Describe other items on a topic that may be of interest to the reader.

Use the handout as a checklist! Skim the document “Critically Analyzing Information Sources” for more details. The questions will prompt you to think about other points not mentioned in this presentation today. ( Uploaded to the library conference on your desktop)

Other points: Evaluate all websites carefully: How do you know an author is credible? Where do you find out about how current the article may be? Which organization created the website? Is there bias? Is there a balanced point of view?

Crash course in Evaluating the Web: Google the author or organization. Scan the perimeter of the page. Read the “About us” or “Contact” tabs. Find out who else is linked to the page by typing, Link: the URL, into Google. Is it peer-reviewed? Is there documentation of sources?

More tips: What is the purpose? Tone? What can the URL tell us? What is the domain? (.org,.biz,. Com); Is there a personal name (~%); Who is the server? Use the handout “Evaluating Websites” as a guide.