1. How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography Lynn Lampert

2. WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY? An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for books, articles, and documents. An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

3. ANNOTATIONS VS. ABSTRACTS Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. Annotations are descriptive and critical; they expose the author's point of view, clarity and appropriateness of expression, and authority. Annotations are descriptive and critical; they expose the author's point of view, clarity and appropriateness of expression, and authority.

4. THE PROCESS Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, and informed library research. Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, and informed library research. First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.

5. The Process Continued Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style. Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or more sentences that (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment on the intended audience, (b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have cited, or (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography topic. (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography topic.

6. CRITICALLY APPRAISING THE BOOK, ARTICLE, OR DOCUMENT For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the sources for your bibliography, think about the following questions:

7. Questions to Consider ??? What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation? What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? (respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars) Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? (respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars) When was the source published? When was the source published? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is this a first edition? Is this a first edition? If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly Is this a popular magazine or scholarly journal? Is this a popular magazine or scholarly journal? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience?

8. More Questions….. Is there a bibliography? Is there a bibliography? Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? Does the source extensively or marginally cover your topic? Does the source extensively or marginally cover your topic? Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Index, Book Review Digest, OR Periodical Abstracts Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Index, Book Review Digest, OR Periodical Abstracts

9. MLA or APA??? MLA Citation Style and APA Citation Style handbooks are available at the Oviatt Library Reference desk. Style manuals for some other formats are also kept in the reference collections. Check with your instructor to find out which style is preferred for your class. Online citation guides for both Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) are available on the Library’s web pages under the “How to Do Library Research Section. Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA)Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA)

10. This example uses the MLA format for the journal citation: Flynn, Richard. “The Kindergarten of New Consciousness Gwendolyn Brooks and the Social Construction of Childhood ” African American Review 34, no. 3 (2000 Fall): 483-99 Identify the title of the article? Identify the title of the journal where the article appeared?

11. Same Annotation Five or six sentences describing the article: Information about the author of the article; The point of view of the author/scholar; Five or six sentences describing the article: Information about the author of the article; The point of view of the author/scholar; School of thought; What kind of article is it…literary criticism, historical piece, biographical, etc… School of thought; What kind of article is it…literary criticism, historical piece, biographical, etc…

12. What an annotation should include: Complete bibliographic information. Complete bibliographic information. Some or all of the following: Some or all of the following: Information to explain the authority and/or qualifications of the author. For example: Dr. William Smith, a history professor at XYZ University, based his book on twenty years of research. Information to explain the authority and/or qualifications of the author. For example: Dr. William Smith, a history professor at XYZ University, based his book on twenty years of research. Scope and main purpose of the work. Scope and main purpose of the work. Any biases that you detect. Any biases that you detect. Intended audience and level of reading difficulty. Intended audience and level of reading difficulty. The relationship, if any, to other works in the area of study. The relationship, if any, to other works in the area of study. A summary comment, e.g., "A popular account directed at educated adults." A summary comment, e.g., "A popular account directed at educated adults." The annotation should be about 100 to 200 words. The annotation should be about 100 to 200 words.

13. Book Example Goulart, R. (1989). The Great Comic Book Artists, Volume 2. New York: St Martin's Press. The alphabetically arranged entries include one page each for the artist biography and black-and-white reprinted art. The subjective choices for inclusion reflect a pronounced American, corporate bias. This slant and the blurry comic-book reproductions render the title a cut below Goulart's usual high standards. Goulart, R. (1989). The Great Comic Book Artists, Volume 2. New York: St Martin's Press. The alphabetically arranged entries include one page each for the artist biography and black-and-white reprinted art. The subjective choices for inclusion reflect a pronounced American, corporate bias. This slant and the blurry comic-book reproductions render the title a cut below Goulart's usual high standards.

14. Another Example… Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. London: Guinness. Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. London: Guinness. Very comprehensive reference book of 3,296 pages (more than 10,000 entries) encompassing all styles of popular music, including jazz. Primarily biographical, but does contain record label histories. Entries from 150 to 3,000 words, though some important artists have longer entries. Most artists from UK and US, though additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro- pop artists from outside these countries. Most entries include discography. Very comprehensive reference book of 3,296 pages (more than 10,000 entries) encompassing all styles of popular music, including jazz. Primarily biographical, but does contain record label histories. Entries from 150 to 3,000 words, though some important artists have longer entries. Most artists from UK and US, though additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro- pop artists from outside these countries. Most entries include discography.

15. Other examples Abatzoglou, J. T., & Kolden, C. A. (2011). Climate Change in Western US Deserts: Potential for Increased Wildfire and Invasive Annual Grasses. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 64 (5), 471–478. doi:10.2111/REM-D-09- 00151.1 While the study was more about modeling and delivering information to invasive species managers/agencies, the lit review of this article was well-written and contained concise yet complete information about the link between climate change, wild fires, and the increases in invasive grasses in the western US, especially in deserts. The authors clearly make the case that these invasive grass species and a drier, hotter climate have lead to increased wildfires in the Southwest.

16. Other examples Ashton, J. (2012, May 17). How Green is My Occupy? Rio+20 Environmentalists Team With #OWS. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-ashton/occupy-rio20-earth summit_b_1520472.html An extremely accessible article describing how the Occupy Wall Street movement is linking up with Rio+20 to mutually boost both groups visibility and enhance their messages. Information is given about Rio+20 and the work of Ted Schulman who has been involved in both movements. The article is interesting and informative but loses some credibility points by stating that the show Mad Men appears on HBO, when in fact it is on AMC. There are links leading to more information for those looking to get involved.

17. Other examples Barnosky, A. D., Hadly, E. A., Bascompte, J., Berlow, E. L., Brown, J. H., Fortelius, M., Getz, W. M., et al. (2012). Approaching a state shift in Earth’s biosphere. Nature, 486 (7401), 52–58. doi:10.1038/nature11018 Describes state shift theory and explains that these rapid changes in the earth’s systems have previously been theoretical or seen in smaller ecosystems or over the course of millennia. At this point the domination of the planet by Humans is bringing about one of these rapid state shifts which will bring about a reality never before known to mankind. The article seeks to review past miniature state changes as well as slow progression (over millennia) state changes in order to better theorize the impact that the new rapid state change we are forcing upon the planet will have. Informative and information packed with several infographics.