1. Annotated Bibliography
(…because someone else just might want to write about your topic one day.)
You will copy down the information that is in RED

2. What is an annotated bibliography?
Real answers
Real answers
A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic.
Bibliographies are sometimes called “References“ (APA) or “Works Cited“ (MLA) depending on the style format being used.
A bibliography usually just includes the bibliographic information (i.e., the author, title, publisher, etc.).
An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation.

3. What is an annotated bibliography?
Bibliography Entry
Bibliography
Ovid. Metamorphoses: Books I-VIII. Translated by Frank Justus Miller. Loeb Classical Library
Series. Harvard UP, 1999.

4. What is an Annotated Bibliography?
Annotated Bibliography Entry
Ovid. Metamorphoses: Books I-VIII. Translated by Frank Justus Miller. Loeb Classical Library Series, Harvard UP, 1999.
Bibliography
Still authoritative after 85+ years in print. The Loeb Classical Library offers each text in facing page translation, with the Latin on the left and the English on the right. It's the version I use. Here's the place to quote as a primary source for classical texts. If anyone would want the medieval version, check out the Ovid moralisée, a French medieval version of Ovid stuffed full of Christian allegory.
Annotation

5. Why are Annotated Bibliographies important?
So, the annotated bibliography is a place for you to write out what makes these sources helpful or irrelevant to read. It shows why you use the sources that you do.

6. Why are Annotated Bibliographies important?
And, after you’ve written your annotated bibliography, other people can look through your descriptions of sources to know what they want to read.

7. What do I put in an annotated bibliography?
Every annotated bibliography is different, because the audience that is trying to find sources will have different needs, Here are some of the qualities that you need to have in your annotated bibliography:
A brief summary of what the book covers, or a brief summary of the author's argument about the topic.
Also, you may want to have a discussion of how the argument or discussion in this book is different from or similar to other books and articles about the topic.

8. What do I put in an annotated bibliography?
Every annotated bibliography is different, because the audience that is trying to find sources will have different needs, Here are some of the qualities that you should have in your annotated bibliography:
How up to date the book or article is (Sometimes, a book printed in 2001 may simply be a reprint of a book written in 1901, check the copyright history inside the book's first few pages.)
Any other practical advice or warnings the reader should know

9. You may also consider mentioning
If any chapter or section in particular looks especially useful (especially if only one chapter or section deals with the subject, and the rest of the book deals with something else)
Whether or not the book has its own bibliography in the back, and how extensive that bibliography is.
How long or short the book or article is (A 450 page book? A short one-page article?)
How easy it is to obtain the book (Is it still in print, is it available at local libraries or bookstores? Is it only available through Orbis or Interlibrary loan?, etc.)

10. Examples A professor writing about “Medieval Beasts, Bestiaries, etc.”
Too Short!
Too Short!
A professor writing about “Medieval Beasts, Bestiaries, etc.”
7 words
Cavallo, Adolfo S. The Unicorn Tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art. H. M. Abrams, 1998.
Supercedes Rorimer's work on the subject is magnificent.
Wheeler, Kip L. "Sample Annotated Bibliographies Dealing with Medieval Monsters." Kip Wheeler's Website. Carson-Newman College, 11 Dec Web. 09 Mar <

11. Examples The O.W.L. at Purdue 200 words Too Long!
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. New York: Anchor Books, Print.
Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the
chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot
development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic. In
the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun.
Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main
project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and
struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical
handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest
perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.
Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of
the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion
on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also
be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's
style both engaging and enjoyable.

12. Examples A student writing about Unicorns
Better, but aim for words!
A student writing about Unicorns
Salvatore, Cavallo Adolfo. The Unicorn Tapestries at The Metropolitan Museum of
Art. H. N. Abrams, 1998.
Hunt of the unicorn, Gothic tapestries. France, art and myth combined. Explains the human/medieval fascination with unicorns and why they may have actually been "tall tales" or folklore relating to observations of rhinoceroses.
South, Malcolm. Mythical and Fabulous Beasts: A Source Book and Research Guide.
Greenwood P, 1987.
Absolutely indispensable. A treasure-hoard of information. Has a glossary of some of the more important fabulous creatures, and will make a great starting spot for any research. Decent bibliography, and a taxonomic chart at the back of book. Doesn't limit itself to medieval material--also has stuff about monsters in modern literature, such as Stephen King. Available at Knight Library. Short Bibliography. Good source.
33 words
68 words

13. Examples 154 words. This is the longest the annotation should be.
Nakjavani, Erik. “The Rest is Silence: A Psychoanalytic Study of Hemingway’s Theory of
Omission and its Adaptation to ‘The Sea Change.’ ” North Dakota Quarterly, vol. 65, no. 2 , 1998, pp
Nakjavani’s analysis of “The Sea Change” is the product of his discussion on psychoanalytic theory and silence. He uses “The Sea Change” to show how Hemingway used silences to disrupt the usual psychoanalytic analysis, and to demonstrate a way of thinking about the concept of silence that could help literary critics to get out of the “overwhelming desire to mount an imaginary search and seizure operation to recapture [the] lost beginning” (164).
Nakjavani pushes the reader to look at what the pronoun “it” does to the reader instead of trying to pin down its signification. There are multiple specific references to concepts of psychoanalytic theory and performativity, and a solid understanding of these abstract concepts is needed to better understand Nakjavani’s point. Nonetheless, Nakjavani’s analysis of the conflict between our human drive for narrative constructions and the silences in “The Sea Change” is an interesting way to navigate a central characteristic of the story.

14. Do not just explain the main story/topic in the annotation!
Salvatore, Cavallo Adolfo. The Unicorn Tapestries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. H. N. Abrams, A long time ago, people used to put unicorns of tapestries. These tapestries were found in castles and other places that were very important. This book explains the human/medieval fascination with unicorns and why they may have actually been "tall tales" or folklore relating to observations of rhinoceroses.

15. Do not explain the main story/topic in the annotation!
Salvatore, Cavallo Adolfo. The Unicorn Tapestries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Museum; H. N. Abrams, A long time ago, people used to put unicorns of tapestries. These tapestries were found in castles and other places that were very important. This book explains the human/medieval fascination with unicorns and why they may have actually been "tall tales" or folklore relating to observations of rhinoceroses.

16. Formatting
The format of an annotated bibliography can vary, so if writing one for a class, it's important to ask for specific guidelines.
Generally, though, the bibliographic information of the source (the title, author, publisher, date, etc.) is written in either MLA or APA format.
You will use Times New Roman 12 pt font. The annotations for each source are written in paragraph form. The lengths of the annotations for this assignment will be a paragraph summary of at least 5 sentences. Then, write 2-3 sentences connected the source to the play Fences.

17. Formatting
Hanging Indents are required for citations in the bibliography. That is, the first line of the citation starts at the left margin. Subsequent lines use the TAB function.
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.
The annotation is a continuation of the citation. Drop down to the next line to start the annotation.
The annotation should be single-spaced.

18. Practice Using the article provided, do the following:
Properly write the Works Cited Entry for this source.
Write the annotation for this source (4-5 sentences)
Summarize: Give a brief (two full sentences or less) description of the author’s point or argument. What is the scholarly article/journal about?
Assess: Write two sentences describing the important information in the source, if any, and how that information relates to other writings on the topic. Why is this source a good place to find information on your topic? Would you recommend this source to another researcher? Was this source better or worse than other sources?