Annotated Bibliographies: Getting Started

Definition

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations from different sources, followed by a summary and/or evaluation of the source. They are used to examine and review the literature available on a topic, demonstrate sources used in research, and learn more about what you are researching.

Why write one?

• To show that you have read and understand the sources used in your assignment
• For personal use to understand current literature on a topic 
• To help other researchers in the field with finding sources on a topic

Always check assignment guidelines for your instructor's expectations of what to include in your annotations!

Annotations usually include one or more of the following:

Summary

This would include a summary of the

• Thesis/argument
• Content/main points
• Research methods
• Scope

Evaluation

• Reliability
• Potential bias
• Limitations
• Authority or qualifications of the author(s)
• For more information and help with this, check out our Evaluating Your Sources Guide

Relevance

• Usefulness (to your own research or to the field in general)
• How the source will be used in your own research
• How the source compares to your own research or others in the field

For help with annotations, feel free to reach out to a librarian -- we're happy to help!