Evaluating Sources
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT TIP SHEET

WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, web sites, and other resources.  Each citation is followed by a brief  descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation, to inform the reader of the accuracy, quality, and relevance of the sources cited.

HOW IS AN ANNOTATION DIFFERENT FROM A SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT?

An abstract or summary is just descriptive.  An annotation is both descriptive and critical. 

WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN CREATING AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?

Creating an annotated bibliography will require that you use a variety of intellectual skills:  evaluation, analysis, and careful library research.

The first step is to locate and record citations to books, articles, web sites, and newspapers on your topic.  Briefly examine and review the actual items, then select those resources that provide the best information on your topic. 

Second, cite book, article, or other resource using the appropriate documentation style.  See "Citing Your Sources" on the FP 130 Research Guide for assistance with this step.

Finally, write a concise annotation that includes the criteria listed in the FP 130 Annotated Bibliography Assignment.

For additional assistance in compiling an annotated bibliography and to see some sample annotations, you should check out the following useful web site:

"Annotated Bibliographies: Content" (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/AnnBib_content.html

This tip sheet is adapted from "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography," content by the Reference Department, Instruction, Research, and Information Services (IRIS), Cornell University Library, and used with their permission. See: http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill28.htm.

Comments or suggestions?
URL: http://www.usna.edu/Library/Fp130/Annotated.html
Last updated: 10 July 2008