What is an Annotated Bibliography?
By now most of you have learned how to craft a traditional bibliography or works cited page in correct MLA format for your Humanities courses. Entries in an annotated bibliography contain all of the same elements as a standard bibliography (author, title, etc.), but with one important addition. Each bibliographic entry also requires an annotation, a brief paragraph, usually four to six sentences in length, that provides a concise overview of the central arguments or elements in that source. If you write down the central points of a source as you’re reading it, the production of the annotated bibliography will proceed smoothly.
There are several purposes to an annotated bibliography. First, they are an excellent way to help you manage the wide range of sources you’ll be reading and using. A quick glance at a well-crafted annotation can help you find the particular source you’re looking for during the long process of research and revision. Second, it lets your readers see clearly the nature and range and general substance of the sources you’re making use of, providing an indication of the specific directions your research is taking and allowing your readers to see just how thoroughly you’ve been reading and understanding those sources. Third, it will be invaluable in helping you produce thoughtful drafts of your research project.
Please consult the links below for further details on how to begin putting together your own annotated bibliographies.
Links
How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography:
http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm
Sample Student
Bibliographies from the Previous HumCore Cycle: Thinking, Making, Doing
(2007-10)
Sample Annotated Bibliography 1