THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
What is an annotated bibliography?
A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, Web sites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic.
Bibliographies are sometimes called "References" or "Works Cited" depending on the format being used. A bibliography
usually just includes the bibliographic information (i.e., the author, title, publisher, etc.).
An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation of a source.
Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes the bibliographic information of the sources as well as a summary and/or
evaluation of each of the sources. Annotations may do one or more of the following:
Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments? What is the
point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this article/book is about, what
would you say? The length of the annotations will determine how detailed the summary is.
Assess: After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How does it
compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or
objective? What is the goal of this source?
Reflect: Once the source had been summarized and assessed, you must ask how it fits into the research.
Was this source helpful? How does it help shape your argument? How can this source be used in the
research project? Has it changed the way you think about your topic?
*** For your English class, the annotations should do ALL THREE of these things within 100-150 words.***
Why should I write an annotated bibliography?
To learn about your topic: Writing an annotated bibliography is excellent preparation for a research project. Just
collecting sources for a bibliography is useful, but when you have to write annotations for each source, you're forced to
read each source more carefully. You begin to read more critically instead of just collecting information.
To help you formulate a thesis: Every good research paper is an argument. The purpose of research is to state and
support a thesis. So a very important part of research is developing a thesis that is debatable, interesting, and current.
Writing an annotated bibliography can help you gain a good perspective on what is being said about your topic. By
reading and responding to a variety of sources on a topic, you'll start to see what the issues are, what people are arguing
about, and you'll then be able to develop your own point of view.
How do I find relevant resources?
In order to create an annotated bibliography, you must be able to:
1. Conduct purposeful and effective library research
2. Locate appropriate sources
3. Conduct an effective analysis of the sources
4. Make a meaningful connection between the sources and the topic being researched.
To ensure that the sources selected are valid, effective and appropriate, consider the following:
 Is the information presented accurate? Can it be corroborated by other sources?
 What are the author’s qualifications for writing on this particular subject?
 Is the information presented from original research or has it been borrowed?
 Is the information biased or are both sides of a controversial issue presented?
 Is the information current and up-to-date?
SOME HELPFUL TEACHER-APPROVED RESOURCES:
 Literary criticism resources (books)
 Newspapers
 Magazines
 “googlescholastic” search engine
 Poetry anthologies
 Online resources available through our school (see the chart that follows)
***There are several helpful online sources available through our school’s website.***
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FOR BRITANNICA ONLINE:
Go to the Iona website
Find the ‘Learning’ heading on the teal bar and select ‘Library’ from the dropdown menu
Scroll down until you find ‘Useful links’ on the bar to the left of the page and click on it
Select Britannica Online Reference Centre
Click on ‘high school’ and type in your choices/subject
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FOR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Go to the Iona website
Select ‘Library’ from the top black bar
Select ‘Electronic Resources’ from the search bar below the school’s name
Type in your subject area
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FOR E-BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARY
Go to the Iona website
Select ‘Library’ from the top black bar
Type in your subject under ‘Quick Search’ and search it as a ‘subject’
Click on the link icon and sign in with the Username: ionacss, and Password: library
What is the correct format for an annotated bibliography?
The bibliographic information: At Iona, your English teachers expect you to use the most current MLA format for the
bibliographic information. Follow the 7th edition MLA citation guide and the example included with this handout.
The annotations: The annotations for each source are written in paragraph form. The length will depend on the purpose.
For your English course, the annotations should be 100-150 words comprising of several sentences.
1. Format the annotated bibliography like the first page of an essay; include a header, the student, teacher, course
information and date, and an original title for your assignment.
2. Double spacing is used throughout, with no extra spaces between entries and no extra space between the
bibliographic information and the annotation.
3. Each entry begins at the left margin; subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches or 1 tab.
4. The annotation begins on a new line and is indented .05 inches or 1 tab.
**See the example included with this handout.**
(Some of the information for this handout was contributed by: Dana Bisignani and Allen Brizee)
Here is an example of what your annotated bibliography should look like: