H OW TO C REATE AN A NNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Ginger Lejeune

W HAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ?  A bibliography is a list of citations for sources (books, articles, databases, etc.) used in a research paper or project.  An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation of a resource.  In an annotated bibliography, each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph called an annotation.

W HY SHOULD I DO AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ? To learn more about your topic!  Prepares you for a research project by examining each source carefully  Gives you a good perspective on the issues that surround your topic  Helps you formulate a thesis because you learn what is available on your topic

S KILLS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY  Independent library research  Bibliographic skills  Attentive evaluation of text  Succinct analysis of resources  Concise expository writing

S TEPS IN THE P ROCESS 1. Locate a variety of sources, including books, databases, articles, etc., that may contain useful information on your topic. 2. Briefly examine these resources and choose those that are reliable, relevant, and contain a variety of perspectives on your topic. 3. Create a citation for each source you’ve chosen, using the correct style as assigned by your teacher (MLA, APA, etc.). 4. Write a concise annotation for each source that summarizes & evaluates its usefulness. Each annotation should be approximately 100–200 words.

YIKES ! AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY LOOKS REALLY COMPLICATED ! It’s not so hard once you know what you’re doing. Let’s look at the process one step at a time.

1. L OCATE A VARIETY OF SOURCES  Find both print and online sources.  Make sure your print sources are from a reliable publisher or institution.  Use authoritative online databases rather than free websites.  Be wary of websites with no credentials.

2. E XAMINE THE SOURCES & CHOOSE THE BEST ONES  Select information from authoritative sources, such as a university or scholarly publication.  Make sure the source is current and not out-of-date for your topic.  Select sources with a variety of perspectives on your topic.  Verify that the information is valid, well- researched, and supported by evidence.

3. C REATE A CITATION FOR EACH SOURCE  You may use Noodle Tools to create your annotated bibliography online.Noodle Tools  The MLA Bibliography Format is also available on your web guide and as a handout in the library.  BUT--remember that YOU are ultimately responsible for the correct formatting of your citations.

4. W RITE A CONCISE ANNOTATION FOR EACH SOURCE You may include as many of these as you & your teacher wish:  Describe the content & focus of the source.  Evaluate the background/authority of the author.  Identify the source’s relevance / usefulness to your research.  Comment on the intended audience and/or bias of the source.  Compare or contrast this source to others you have cited.  Record your reactions to the source.

H ANG IN THERE — YOU ’ RE ALMOST FINISHED ! Alphabetize your citations. Check for errors in MLA format. Proofread the whole thing.

I F YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THESE STEPS, YOU ’ VE CREATED AN A NNOTATED B IBLIOGRAPHY Congratulations! You’ve just learned a very useful skill that will assist you in your future academic pursuits.