The annotated bibliography demonstrates the research you have completed for your course project and allows you to focus on a crucial research skill: the ability to locate, analyze, and evaluate scholarly literature.

Your annotated bibliography should do the following:

• Include references that are appropriate academic resources, such as peer-reviewed articles.
• Include at least 8 references formatted following current APA style guidelines.
• Describe the relationship of the references to your selected topic.
• Provide an evaluative annotation of the information included in each reference.

Review the Annotated Bibliography Scoring Guide to ensure you have met all of the grading criteria for the assignment. Submit your annotated bibliography in the assignment area.

Extra information/ resources

Introduction

An annotated bibliography is a great tool to help scholarly writers move from the research to the drafting phase of a writing project, particularly when managing a large number of sources. A bibliography is an alphabetized list of sources relevant to a particular area of inquiry or research question; an annotated bibliography goes beyond merely giving the citation information for the sources to provide the reader with more information about the content of those sources. The content information is called the annotation.

Types of Annotation

There are at least two different kinds of annotated bibliographies: summative and evaluative. Length of annotations can also vary, from approximately 150-word paragraphs to 1–2 page annotations. Occasionally, some are designed with shorter annotations. If writing an annotated bibliography for a class, be sure to check with the instructor to determine which type of annotation is required for the assignment you are completing, and the preferred length required.

Summative

Summative annotations provide the reader with a solid sense of the content of the article or book being annotated. They are similar to abstracts, but usually are a little more detailed and convey more aspects of the arguments being presented. Summative annotations are not as long or detailed as summaries, however, which are generally longer essay assignments in which the writer is representing all the main points of an article.

Evaluative

Evaluative annotations include both a description and a critical assessment of the article or book being annotated. They are designed to give the reader a sense of the quality of the source and the argumentative position of the author relative to others in the field. Some evaluative annotations are focused specifically on how the source responds or contributes to a particular research question or area of inquiry in the field. Consideration of methodology and how data were gathered are often a part of an evaluative annotation. These types of annotations may be stand-alone entries, or they may be comparative, referencing the other entries to give a total picture of how different articles on the topic are in conversation with each other.

Uses of Annotated Bibliography

Annotated bibliographies can be invaluable in the research process, especially when working with large numbers of sources over a long period of time. It is very difficult (if not impossible) to recall details about every source on a given topic. Well-written annotations can help crystallize key information presented in each article or book, preserving it in a format that can be easily accessed and revisited at any stage of the writing process.

An annotated bibliography can be created in response to a specific research question, or it might represent exploratory research on a broader topic at an earlier stage of the research process. Writing about each source individually helps clarify and situate the perspectives of different scholars and their approaches to a given topic. In this way, the annotated bibliography can serve as the basis of a review of literature; it functions as the nuts and bolts of the research, laying out different themes and positions that have emerged about the topic in the literature of the field.

Summative Example

Summative annotations provide the reader with a solid sense of the content of the article or book being annotated. They are similar to abstracts, but usually are a little more detailed and convey more aspects of the arguments being presented. Summative annotations are not as long or detailed as summaries, however, which are generally longer essay assignments in which the writer is representing all the main points of an article.

Evaluative Example

Evaluative annotations include both a description and a critical assessment of the article or book being annotated. They are designed to give the reader a sense of the quality of the source and the argumentative position of the author relative to others in the field. Some evaluative annotations are focused specifically on how the source responds or contributes to a particular research question or area of inquiry in the field. Consideration of methodology and how data were gathered are often a part of an evaluative annotation. These types of annotations may be stand-alone entries, or they may be comparative, referencing the other entries to give a total picture of how different articles on the topic are in conversation with each other.

Format of annotated bibliography entries (in APA style)

The basic format of each entry in an annotated bibliography is simple: begin with a complete reference list citation in correct APA format. Then, on the next line, begin the annotation. The annotation paragraph should be indented .5 inches from the left margin (aligning with the citation’s hanging indent) and be double-spaced. Do not indent the first line of the annotation paragraph.