What is an annotated bibliography??
An annotated bibliography gives a gist of the research that has been conducted on a given topic. An annotated bibliography, unlike an essay or literature review, summarises and evaluates every text separately. Every excerpt is often presented alphabetically based on the first letter of the surname of the main author.
The purposes of an annotated bibliography are as follows:
- Summarise the key concepts presented in the text,
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the text, and
- Discuss its relevance to your research or the research of others on this issue.
Steps of writing an annotated bibliography
- Select relevant sources
- The sources you choose will affect the quality and significance of your bibliography. Define your study scope carefully so that you can make sensible choices about what you should include and exclude. Your research should strive to be relatively comprehensive within well-defined criteria.
- First analyse the author’s credentials, qualifications and the time when the research was conducted. In addition to the author, ensure that the publication or journal where you found the research is well-known and well-reviewed by experts in the field. Research from an unknown or untrustworthy journal will not be a reliable source for your arguments or analysis.
- Other things to consider for an annotated bibliography include the targeted audience and any errors or bias, if present.
- Analyse the relevance and value of the sources
- Your annotation should briefly evaluate the source's contribution to the investigation of your research question. If your bibliography is part of a research work, explain briefly how and why you intend to use the source. Try evaluating the source's contribution to the research on your topic if your bibliography is an independent activity.
- Format the bibliography
- Start with a correctly structured title at the very beginning of the page, such as "Annotated Bibliography" or "Annotated References."
- List your sources alphabetically by author's last name or title if there is no author.
- Use a uniform citation style (e.g., APA citation, MLA citation, or Chicago citation) in accordance with the requirements of your assignment.
- Write the annotation
- A. Summary: Summarise the key points and arguments of the source. Mention the research topic, research methods, major findings, and any additional pertinent information. Be clear and concise.
- B. Evaluation: Determine the credibility, objectivity, and usefulness of the source to your research. Consider the author's credentials, the reputation of the publication, the source's timeliness, and its significance to the research topic.
- C. Reflection: Describe how this source contributes to your overall research. Is it relevant to your research question? Is it a different point of view or a counterargument? Mention any source's merits and limitations.
- Check for the language and tone
- Write in formal and unambiguous language.
- Maintain objectivity in your assessments and avoid personal opinions.
- Keep it short and to the point.
- Ensure consistency
- Maintain consistency in structure and style throughout the bibliography.
- Proofread
- Check your annotations for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
After the citation, write a paragraph of roughly 150-200 words that summarises the source and evaluates its content. The annotation consists of the following:
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