Why do an annotated bibliography?
- To use research to support your argument or theories
- To articulate your evaluation and summary of the material
- To share your expertise of the material with others
- To add to the scholarly conversation on your topic
What does an annotated bibliography contain?
- A citation in the appropriate style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
- Summary of the main points or purpose of the work
- An evaluation of the research considering:
- How current a source is
- How relevant a source is to your topic
- What elements of authority an author/creator of a source has to speak on your topic
- Quality of data, research methods, conclusions
- Purpose of the source
- A conclusion or reflection about the research
- Ex: how do you plan to use this source in your research?
Adapted from Annotated Bibliographies, The Writing Center University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. https://writing center.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/annotated-bibliographies/