Writing Guide: How to Write Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography entails a list of sources followed by an annotation after each reference. An annotation is a brief paragraph summarizing the content of the source; its main objective is to highlight the main arguments of the author and the relevance or its value. The annotation should be between three to six lines or 150 to 200 words. Before beginning your work, it is essential to identify the scope and the problem you want to investigate. Figure out the type of sources you will use, whether they are journals, websites, or books.
There are different types of annotated bibliographies; summary, critical, and summary, and critical annotations. Summary annotations describe the content on the source. They are subdivided into two; informative and indicative annotations. When summarizing, use your own words to state the ideas of the authors, be careful not to change the structure and meaning. Critical annotations require an Assessment of the source. Identify its relevance and why you used it. For you to evaluate a source, you have to understand the main argument, its limitations, and the evidence used.
In critical annotations, you have to identify why you want to use the source, whether the evidence of the source or its theoretical framework is relevant to your research, or the research question is related to yours. Summary and critical annotations comprise of both the summary and Assessments. Some annotations show the similarity and dissimilarity of the sources used. Just like bibliographies, annotated bibliographies appear in alphabetical order. Each entry is double spaced. It begins with full bibliographic information, followed by the annotation. If the list is long, you can organize the sources based on topics or sections. Use the third person’s point of view. If you include any opinions, include explanations.
Example of an annotation
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995
Lamott’s book encompasses information about a writer’s life. It discusses the challenges a writer faces and how they can overcome them. The book advises on how to overcome anxieties of writing and perfectionism. It also discusses aspects such as plot development.
Before deciding whether to use a summary or critical annotations, consider the objective or instructions given by the instructor. Include page numbers from the title page. Indent all paragraphs and use times New Times Roman font. Include a one-inch margin on all sides of all pages, which includes the top, bottom, right, and left.
