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provides tips on various parts of an entry

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What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

Annotations vs. Abstracts

Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. Annotations are descriptive and critical; they may describe the author's point of view, authority, or clarity and appropriateness of expression.

The Process

Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, and informed library research.

First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.

Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.

Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or more sentences that (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography topic.

Critically Appraising the Book, Article, or Document

For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the sources for your bibliography, see How to Critically Analyze Information Sources. For information on the author's background and views, ask at the reference desk for help finding appropriate biographical reference materials and book review sources.

Choosing the Correct Citation Style

Check with your instructor to find out which style is preferred for your class. Online citation guides for both the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) styles are linked from the Library's Citation Management page.

Sample Annotated Bibliography Entries

The following example uses APA style ( Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, 2019) for the journal citation:

Waite, L., Goldschneider, F., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults. American Sociological Review, 51(4), 541-554.
The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living.

This example uses MLA style ( MLA Handbook, 9th edition, 2021) for the journal citation. For additional annotation guidance from MLA, see 5.132: Annotated Bibliographies.

Waite, Linda J., et al. "Nonfamily Living and the Erosion of Traditional Family Orientations Among Young Adults." American Sociological Review, vol. 51, no. 4, 1986, pp. 541-554.

The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living.

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LibGuides: How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography: The Annotated Bibliography

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A quick guide to use for writing A.B. entries

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A quick guide to use for writing A.B. entries

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provides 3 easy steps

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Suggested Resources
Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Summary:
This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

Overview

Below you will find sample annotations from annotated bibliographies, each with a different research project. Remember that the annotations you include in your own bibliography should reflect your research project and/or the guidelines of your assignment.

As mentioned elsewhere in this resource, depending on the purpose of your bibliography, some annotations may summarize, some may assess or evaluate a source, and some may reflect on the source's possible uses for the project at hand. Some annotations may address all three of these steps. Consider the purpose of your annotated bibliography and/or your instructor's directions when deciding how much information to include in your annotations.

Please keep in mind that all your text, including the write-up beneath the citation, must be indented so that the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.

Sample MLA Annotation

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995.

Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic.

In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.

Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.

In the sample annotation above, the writer includes three paragraphs: a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to his/her own research, respectively.

For information on formatting MLA citations, see our MLA 9th Edition (2021) Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample APA Annotation

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich's project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project's strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source's potential importance or usefulness for this person's own research.

For information on formatting APA citations, see our APA Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample Chicago Manual of Style Annotation

Davidson, Hilda Ellis. Roles of the Northern Goddess. London: Routledge, 1998.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles filled by the numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in everyday life, including their roles in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts like weaving, the household, and death. The author discusses relevant archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and previous research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs of relevant artifacts.

This annotation includes only one paragraph, a summary of the book. It provides a concise description of the project and the book's project and its major features.

For information on formatting Chicago Style citations, see our Chicago Manual of Style resources.

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Summary:
This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

Overview

Below you will find sample annotations from annotated bibliographies, each with a different research project. Remember that the annotations you include in your own bibliography should reflect your research project and/or the guidelines of your assignment.

As mentioned elsewhere in this resource, depending on the purpose of your bibliography, some annotations may summarize, some may assess or evaluate a source, and some may reflect on the source's possible uses for the project at hand. Some annotations may address all three of these steps. Consider the purpose of your annotated bibliography and/or your instructor's directions when deciding how much information to include in your annotations.

Please keep in mind that all your text, including the write-up beneath the citation, must be indented so that the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.

Sample MLA Annotation

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995.

Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic.

In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.

Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.

In the sample annotation above, the writer includes three paragraphs: a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to his/her own research, respectively.

For information on formatting MLA citations, see our MLA 9th Edition (2021) Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample APA Annotation

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich's project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project's strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source's potential importance or usefulness for this person's own research.

For information on formatting APA citations, see our APA Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample Chicago Manual of Style Annotation

Davidson, Hilda Ellis. Roles of the Northern Goddess. London: Routledge, 1998.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles filled by the numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in everyday life, including their roles in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts like weaving, the household, and death. The author discusses relevant archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and previous research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs of relevant artifacts.

This annotation includes only one paragraph, a summary of the book. It provides a concise description of the project and the book's project and its major features.

For information on formatting Chicago Style citations, see our Chicago Manual of Style resources.

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Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved.

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VERY important to consider...which one(s) do you think is/are most appropriate, based on our task?

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An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources, each of which is followed by a brief note or "annotation."

These annotations do one or more of the following:

describe the content and focus of the book or article

suggest the source's usefulness to your research

evaluate its method, conclusions, or reliability

record your reactions to the source.

How do I format the bibliographic citations?

Check with your instructor to determine which documentation style is required for your class: APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, CBE, Numbered References, APSA, etc.

Then, remember that the bibliography is an organized list of sources used. The annotation may immediately follow the bibliographic information on the same line, or it may begin on a new line, two lines below the publication information.

But, since style manuals differ, check with your instructor about which one to use concerning form, spacing, and consistency.

If you are using APA documentation, the Writing Center offers a short workshop called "APA Documentation".

What goes into the content of the annotations?

Below are some of the most common forms of annotated bibliographies. Click on the links to see examples of each.

Indicative

This form of annotation defines the scope of the source, lists the significant topics included, and tells what the source is about.

This type is different from the informative entry in that the informative entry gives actual information about its source.

In the indicative entry there is no attempt to give actual data such as hypotheses, proofs, etc. Generally, only topics or chapter titles are included.
Example
Indicative (descriptive-tell us what is included in the source)
Griffin, C. Williams, ed. (1982). Teaching writing in
all disciplines. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Ten essays on writing-across-the-curriculum programs,
teaching writing in disciplines other than English, and
teaching techniques for using writing as learning. Essays
include Toby Fulwiler, "Writing: An Act of Cognition";
Barbara King, "Using Writing in the Mathematics Class:
Theory and Pratice"; Dean Drenk, "Teaching Finance Through
Writing"; Elaine P. Maimon, "Writing Across the Curriculum:
Past, Present, and Future."

(Bizzell and Herzberg, 1991, p. 47)

Informative

Simply put, this form of annotation is a summary of the source.

To write it, begin by writing the thesis; then develop it with the argument or hypothesis, list the proofs, and state the conclusion.
Example
Informative (summary-tell us what the main findings or arguments are in the source)
Voeltz, L.M. (1980). Children's attitudes toward
handicapped peers. American Journal of Mental
Deficiency, 84, 455-464.

As services for severely handicapped children become
increasingly available within neighborhood public
schools, children's attitudes toward handicapped
peers in integrated settings warrant attention.
Factor analysis of attitude survey responses of 2,392
children revealed four factors underlying attitudes
toward handicapped peers: social-contact willingness,
deviance consequation, and two actual contact
dimensions. Upper elementary-age children, girls,
and children in schools with most contact with
severely handicapped peers expressed the most
accepting attitudes. Results of this study suggest
the modifiability of children's attitudes and the
need to develop interventions to facilitate social
acceptance of individual differences in integrated
school settings.
(Sternlicht and Windholz, 1984, p. 79)

Evaluative

In this form of annotation you need to assess the source's strengths and weaknesses.

You get to say why the source is interesting or helpful to you, or why it is not. In doing this you should list what kind of and how much information is given; in short, evaluate the source's usefulness.
Example

Evaluative (tell us what you think of the source)
Gurko, Leo. (1968). Ernest Hemingway and the pursuit of
heroism. New York: Crowell.

This book is part of a series called "Twentieth Century
American Writers": a brief introduction to the man and his
work. After fifty pages of straight biography, Gurko
discussed Hemingway's writing, novel by novel. There's an
index and a short bibliography, but no notes. The
biographical part is clear and easy to read, but it sounds
too much like a summary.
(Spatt, 1991, p. 322)

Hingley, Ronald. (1950). Chekhov: A biographical and
critical study. London: George Allen & Unwin.

A very good biography. A unique feature of this book is the
appendix, which has a chronological listing of all English
translations of Chekhov's short stories.
(Spatt, 1991, p. 411)

Combination

Most annotated bibliographies are of this type.

They contain one or two sentences summarizing or describing content and one or two sentences providing an evaluation.
Example

Combination
Morris, Joyce M. (1959). Reading in the primary school:
An investigation into standards of reading and their
association with primary school characteristics.
London: Newnes, for National Foundation for
Educational Research.

Report of a large-scale investigation into English
children's reading standards, and their relation to
conditions such as size of classes, types of organisation
and methods of teaching. Based on enquiries in sixty
schools in Kent and covering 8,000 children learning to
read English as their mother tongue. Notable for
thoroughness of research techniques.

Which writing style should I use in the annotations?

The most important thing to understand is that entries should be brief.

Only directly significant details will be mentioned and any information apparent in the title can be omitted from the annotation.

In addition, background materials and references to previous work by the same author usually are not included.

Listed below are three writing styles used in annotated bibliographies. Click on a link to see examples of each.

Telegraphic

(phrases, non-sentences)

Get the information out, quickly and concisely. Be clear, but complete and grammatically correct sentences are unnecessary.
Example

Telegraphic (phrases, non-sentences)
Vowles, Richard B. (1962). Psychology and drama:
A selected checklist. Wisconsin Studies in
Contemporary Literature, 3,(1), 35-48.

Divided by individual authors. Reviews the research
between 1920 and 1961.

(Bell and Gallup, 1971, p. 68)

Complete sentences

In this style you must always use complete sentences.

The length of the sentences varies. Subjects and conjunctions are not eliminated even though the tone may be terse. Avoid long and complex sentences.
Example
Complete sentences
Kinter, W. R., and R L. Pfaltzgraff. (1972). Assessing
the Moscow SALT agreements. Orbis, 16, 34l-360.

The authors hold the conservative view that SALT can not
halt the slipping nuclear advantage of the United States.
They conclude that the United States needs a national
reassessment of defense policy. They further conclude that
the only utility of SALT is in developing a dialogue with
the Soviets. This is a good conservative critique of
SALT I.

(Strenski and Manfred, 1981, p. 165)

Paragraph

When using this form of annotation, you must write a full, coherent paragraph.

Sometimes this can be similar to the form of a bibliographic essay. It goes without saying that you need to use complete sentences.
Example
Paragraph (a little more formal)
Voeltz, L.M. (1980). Children's attitudes toward
handicapped peers. American Journal of Mental
Deficiency, 84, 455-464.

As services for severely handicapped children become
increasingly available within neighborhood public schools,
children's attitudes toward handicapped peers in integrated
settings warrant attention. Factor analysis of attitude
survey responses of 2,392 children revealed four factors
underlying attitudes toward handicapped peers: social-
contact willingness, deviance consequation, and two actual
contact dimensions. Upper elementary-age children, girls,
and children in schools with most contact with severely
handicapped peers expressed the most accepting attitudes.
Results of this study suggest the modifiability of
children's attitudes and the need to develop interventions
to facilitate social acceptance of individual differences
in integrated school settings.

(Sternlicht and Windholz, 1984, p. 79)

Additional information

If you have additional questions, ask your course instructor or consider scheduling an appointment with a Writing Center instructor.

The Writing Center also has information on different documentation systems, such as MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, CBE, Numbered References, and APSA styles of citation.

If you are using APA documentation, you are in luck! The Writing Center offers a short class called "The Basics of APA Documentation"!

References for examples used

Bell, Inglis F., and Jennifer Gallup. (1971). A reference guide to English, American, and Canadian literature. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.

Bizzell, Patricia, and Bruce Herzberg. (1991). Bedford bibliography for teachers of writing. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press.

Center for Information on Language Teaching and The English Teaching Information Center of the British Council. (1968). A Language-teaching bibliography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Spatt, Brenda. (1991). Writing from sources. 3rd ed. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Sternlicht, Manny, and George Windholz. (1984). Social behavior of the mentally retarded. New York and London: Garland Press.

Strenski, Ellen, and Madge Manfred. (1981). The research paper workbook. 2nd ed. New York and London: Longman.

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An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources, each of which is followed by a brief note or "annotation." These annotations do one or more of the following: describe the content and focus of the book or article suggest the source's usefulness to your research evaluate its method, conclusions, or reliability record your reactions...

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It's an oldie, but a goodie

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(I'm not making this up...)

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What format might you use?  Which of your prioritized questions will you address?  

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What format might you use?  Which of your prioritized questions will you address?  

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Some guidelines:

What will help you, as a speaker?

Which tools are you comfortable with, that will help you convey your information and viewpoint?

What might you need to learn (or what questions might you have) that would help to make your visual component of your presentation more successful?

Consider using:
Padlet
Slides
Prezi
Create a Hyperdoc of your own
...and more

Need to conference about an idea? Ask!

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You may choose to use SOME of these elements to help you as you write your annotated bib entries...

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From the romantic landscapes of Albert Bierstadt to the dramatic world of Fredric Remington, the paintings, sculptures, and drawings in the Art of the American West Gallery tell an epic tale of human determination, triumph, and tragedy.

Minute details combined with moody, deistic lighting won Bierstadt fame and fortune.

In 1892, art critic William Coffin noted that more than any other source, Frederic Remington's paintings were chiefly responsible for easterners' conceptions of what the Far‑Western life is like.

Come explore the West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Exhibit produced by,
John Spencer, Director of Media & Content Production, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Grant Leatherwood, Manager of Media & Content Production, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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Art of the American West - National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Google Arts & Culture

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From the romantic landscapes of Albert Bierstadt to the dramatic world of Fredric Remington, the paintings, sculptures, and drawings in the Art of the American West Gallery tell an epic tale of human determination, triumph, and tragedy. Minute details combined with moody, deistic lighting won Bierstadt fame and fortune.