Annotated
Bibliographies
Anthropology 218
Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS
September 12, 2014
What is an “Annotated
Bibliography”?
A list of citations to books,
articles and documents followed
by a brief descriptive and
evaluative paragraph. This
annotation is intended to inform
the reader of the relevance,
accuracy, and quality of the
sources cited.
Retrieved from Western Libraries: http://www.lib.uwo.ca/programs/nusring/NSGannbib.shtml on September 12, 2014
What is the purpose of an
annotated bibliography?
Learn
Demonstrate
Inform
Learn about a
particular topic in
preparation for a
research project
Demonstrate the
value of a
particular source
Inform fellow or
future researchers
about a topic or
source
Focus your
research
Why are the
sources you chose
for your paper
worthwhile?
Provide detailed
examples of
relevant and
useful sources
Develop a thesis
that is debatable,
interesting and
current
Annotated Bibliographies:
Format
The format of an annotated bibliography can change
depending on the assignment, but the typical format is
a list of reference entries followed by annotations.
– Alphabetized by author
– Brief
– Appropriate bibliographic format (AAA)
Be sure to ask your instructor about any alternative expectations
for your specific assignment!
Walden University, Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review Basics by Jessica Baron.
Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Documents/Annotated_Bib_and_Lit_Review_Basics.ppt on September 10, 2013
Annotated Bibliography:
Your Assignment
10 Academic references
Each reference presented at the top of a separate
page, followed by:
250-350 words - double-spaced
Statement indicating how you plan to use this source
for your paper – be specific!
AAA style
Annotated Bibliographies:
The Elements
Within each annotation, there are
typically three elements:
Summary
Critique/Analysis
Application
These elements can often
be formatted as three paragraphs.
Walden University, Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review Basics by Jessica Baron.
Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Documents/Annotated_Bib_and_Lit_Review_Basics.ppt on September 10, 2013
Annotated Bibliography:
Summary
• What is this study about?
• What key themes are presented?
• What arguments does the author use to present their
findings?
• What methods were used in the study?
• What was the theoretical basis for the study?
• What were the conclusions of the study?
Annotated Bibliography:
Critique/Analysis
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the article?
• Did the author present a convincing or persuasive
argument?
• Are there gaps in the information presented? Was
something missing?
• Was the article biased?
• Was the article scholarly? Why or why not?
Avoid trying to be nice! Your reader will want to know if there
are any deficiencies or areas for improvement within the
research.
Walden University, Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review Basics by Jessica Baron.
Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Documents/Annotated_Bib_and_Lit_Review_Basics.ppt on September 10, 2013
Annotated Bibliography:
Application
• How does this research apply to your topic?
• How does this source compare to other articles in the
same field or on the same topic?
• How does this source inform future research?
• Did this article raise any further questions?
Annotated Bibliography:
Worksheet
EVALUATING SOURCES
Scholarly vs Popular
Scholarly
• Journals
• Written by experts
• Evaluated by experts: “Peer
Reviewed”
• Authoritative Source
• Usually include:
• Credentials of the Author
• Abstract
• Bibliography
• Specialized vocabulary
• Reference List
Popular
• Magazines
• Written by journalists, students,
popular authors, or no author listed
• Flashy covers
• Advertisements
• Brief articles
• Trade Journals: Business, Finance,
Industry (Written by experts, but
may not be peer reviewed)
• Newspapers
Anthropological sources:
What are they?
Check out Moodle!
Dr. Fawcett provides you with excellent resources on how
to determine whether or not your reference is
anthropological!
Holistic
Comparative
Ethnographic
Theoretical Framework
Key Authors: Anthropologists
Anthropology Journals
Question! Question! Question!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is this source reliable?
Is this source current?
Have opinions changed?
What are the current trends in this research area?
Are there any gaps in the research? Is something missing?
Who is the author?
Are they an expert in this field?
Do they represent multiple points of view or do they
express bias for their own point of view?
C
R
A
P
Currency
How recent is the information?
Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?
Based on your topic, is this current enough?
Why might the date matter for your topic?
Reliability
What kind of information is included in the resource?
Is the content primarily opinion?
Is the information balanced or biased?
Does the author provide citations & references for data?
Authority
Can you determine who the author/creator is?
What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience)?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor reputable?
Purpose / Point of View
What’s the intent of the article (to persuade you, to sell something)?
For Web resources, what is the domain (.edu, .com, etc.)? How might that influence the
purpose/point of view?
Are there ads on the Web site? How do they relate to the topic? Is the author presenting
fact or opinion?
Based on the original CRAP TEST created by Librarian Molly Beestrum, Dominican University
LOEX (Library Orientation Exchange) wiki (2008). The CRAP test. Retrieved from http://loex2008collaborate.pbworks.com/w/page/18686701/The%20CRAP%20Test
Let’s evaluate these websites!
• http://www.originofaids.com/
• http://carca.ca/
Paraphrasing and Plagiarism
Paraphrasing
•
Read the original text until you grasp its
meaning; then set it aside.
•
Using your memory, write down the main
points or concepts. Do not copy the text
verbatim.
•
Change the structure of the text by varying
the opening, changing the order of
sentences, lengthening or shortening
sentences, etc.
•
•
Replace keywords within the sentences with
synonyms or phrases with similar
meanings.
Plagiarism
•
is the misrepresentation of another's work,
whether ideas, words, or creative works,
published or unpublished, as one's own.
•
The use of someone else's work must be
explicitly acknowledged.
Examples
•
Quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing text
without proper acknowledgement
•
Paraphrasing too closely (e.g., changing only
a few words or simply rearranging the text)
•
Downloading all or part of a paper, journal
article, or book from the Web or a library
database and presenting it as one's own
work
•
Plagiarism and other acts of academic
dishonesty, including cheating, tampering,
and falsification, are subject to academic
discipline.
Check your notes against the original to
ensure you have not accidentally
plagiarized.
StFX Step-by-Step Research Guide by Suzanne van den Hoogen. Retrieved from http://stfx.libguides.com/aecontent.php?pid=480283&sid=3935208
on September 12, 2013.
Annotated Bibliography:
Cite Your Work!
American Anthropological Association
AAA
Ask a Librarian!
Image Source: http://robcrispe.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/info_overload.jpg
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