A bibliography is a list of sources on a particular topic. Put together, an annotated bibliography is a list of sources on a topic that offers a summary (or an annotation) for each source. What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations (or references) for books, articles, documents, etc: all the sources used for your research, with an accompanying paragraph that describes, explains and/or evaluates each entry in terms of quality, authority and relevance.
What is included in the summary part (or annotation) of an annotated bibliography? Your annotation/summary should include the following elements: (1) a sentence or two that describes the author's credentials, purpose, and audience.
(2) a brief summary of its content, and how this source is answering the research question, clarifying your understanding of the research, and/or reviewing the literature of the research, etc.
(3) a sentence at the end of the summary that explains its value to the student.
How do I Write an Annotation?
Keep in mind that annotations are supposed to highlight the most important points of a resource. If you’re struggling to keep your annotations short, make sure you’re not getting too specific - if people reading your bibliography want to know more, they can find the work and read it directly. Also, always remember that annotations should be as unbiased as possible – keep your personal opinions out!
