If you have been tasked with writing annotations as part of a research paper or project, begin to create both the citation and notes on the source while you identify and analyze your sources. Whether you’re publishing or submitting your annotated bibliography, make sure your spelling and wording is correct! If you need to brush up on any parts of speech topics, check out our interjection, determiner, and adverb pages! Step 1: Analyze your sourcesĮach annotation should be a summarization or analysis of your source. If you plan to publish your research, this comprehensive approach to detailing your sources will provide readers and other researchers with a substantial directory of resources to evaluate for their own work. Your instructor will gain insight into your research abilities, as well, allowing them to assess your work more thoroughly. Understanding the purpose of this approach to your reference list can help to ensure that you gain all of the benefits that the annotated bibliography process provides.Īs a student, this method will help you develop or hone your research skills, providing you with practice not only in locating sources but also in analyzing and evaluating them for relevance and quality.
Sometimes instructors want you to create and include annotations in your bibliography, either as part of an assignment or as an assignment unto itself. Why include annotations?īefore you learn how to make an annotated bibliography, you may be wondering why you need to. You can also take advantage of the plagiarism checker and bibliography tools that come with EasyBib Plus to help you create your reference lists. This resource provides additional information on how to write a bibliography with annotations in other formats. If you would like to learn more, this link further explores the difference between an abstract and an annotation. It should provide a short overview of the article and communicate the main points and themes. Usually found in journal databases or the beginning of a paper.It should briefly communicate the work’s main point, but also discuss the background of the author or study, and the strengths/weaknesses of the work. Usually found in bibliographies at the end of a paper.AbstractĪn abstract and annotation should not be confused they differ in both their substance as well as their placement in a paper. Depending on the assignment, this annotation may be solely descriptive, or analytical. When your research is related to a scholastic assignment, you should always verify your instructor’s requirements for the types and number of sources to include, as well as the style you should adhere to when formatting your paper and bibliography.Īn MLA annotated bibliography and an APA format annotated bibliography are bibliographies that include a concise explanation, or annotation, of each listed source. These details also help other students and researchers find and read the source materials. Each listed source, or citation, shares information about the author, title, publishing year, and other details that serve to credit the original authors whose work informed your research. Step 3b: Formatting an APA style annotated bibliographyĪ bibliography is a complete list of the sources that were used to complete a research paper or project.ĭepending on the style guide you follow, you may also see this called a Works Cited (also called an MLA bibliography) or Reference List (APA format).Step 3a: Formatting an MLA style annotated bibliography.Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes: If you’re looking for a variety of annotated bibliography topics, and you’re truly searching for the answer to, “What is an annotated bibliography?” then continue reading! We’ve included links to visuals for those of you who need help with the structure and styling of an annotated bibliography. If you’re simply looking for an example of an annotated bibliography (both in MLA format and APA format), scroll down toward the bottom of the page. The structures and annotated bibliography templates on this page were created by the in-house librarians at. All of the information provided here, however, offers direction for students and researchers who use these citation styles in their work. The MLA ( Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) are not associated with this guide. You will also find sample annotated bibliographies, real-life examples, and opportunities to practice what you have learned. This guide will help answer all of your questions and includes step-by-step instructions on how to do an annotated bibliography in MLA style, as well as an APA annotated bibliography.
If you’ve just received an assignment that requires an MLA or APA annotated bibliography, you may be wondering where to start. ( 439) A Complete Guide to the MLA & APA Annotated Bibliography