Library Research for College Students: Step-by-Step

What is An Annotated Bibliography?

A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, Web sites, periodicals, etc.) used for researching a topic

• A bibliography is called References if you are using APA Citations Style
• A bibliography is called Works Cited if you are using MLA Citation Style
• includes the bibliographic information (i.e., the author, title, publisher, etc.)

An annotated bibliography means and a short paragraph about the source added beneath the citation.

What the paragraph might include:

• summary
  • purpose and main arguments of the source
  • topics covered
• evaluation
  • author credentials and qualifications
  • reliability and accuracy, 
  • objectivity or bias
  • biased or objective
  • meets its stated goals
• reflection
  • how the source fits into your research
  • how it helps you shape your argument
  • how it may have changed how you think about your topic

Why are annotated bibliographies important?

Annotated bibliographies are important because they can help you learn about the different sources and the variety of perspectives related to your topic. Understanding different perspectives helps you develop your own perspective about the topic. Annotated bibliographies can also be used as a personal pre-writing exercise to help you piece together the different elements of your research.