What is an Annotated Bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of sources (bibliography) that includes comments about each source. These comments are called annotations.
What do students get out of an annotated bibliography assignment?
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An early start on a research assignment
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Experience with library research and with citing sources
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Practice in evaluating sources and thinking about how those sources fit into their research project
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Feedback from the professor about the topic, research question, and citations
How to write an annotated bibliography:
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Find sources related to your topic (check with your instructor to confirm which types of sources are acceptable for the assignment)
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Critically read and evaluate sources
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Create the proper citation
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Below the citation write your annotation
An annotation (found below each citation) typically includes*:
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An evaluation of the work - the value of the evidence, the logic of arguments, etc.
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A description of the arguments or findings in the source
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The qualifications/credibility of the author(s) or publishing source
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How the source will support your argument or thesis
*Check with your instructors to confirm what information they require in an annotation.