Annotated Bibliography
Purpose: Your next assignment is an Annotated Bibliography in preparation for your
Argumentative Research Paper. An Annotated Bibliography is a list of citations to books,
articles, and documents to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the
sources cited. An effective Annotated Bibliography is used to compile research sources in one
location and provide the researcher with quick access to the information contained in each
source.
Annotation Components: Your annotated bibliography will consist of the sources that you have
deemed relevant to your topic and/or question(s) of inquiry. The parts of an annotation include:
1. Citation details that follow the rules of your chosen style guide (such as MLA, APA,
Harvard, Chicago etc.). Make sure you use the correct formatting and double check
with the required style guides.
2. The purpose of the cited paper is a short, concise sentence. You can mention the
research and the scope of the author.
3. Your reading experience with the cited paper. Write about how easily the author
makes the research understood, and what you think about it. Do not risk writing
annotations for papers you have not actually read – the purpose of an annotated
bibliography is proving that your research is well-documented.
4. An evaluation of the author’s work. For an annotation to be more than a summary, you
need to add your critical point of view on it. Write about what you think the weak points
are.
5. Conclusions, if available, and how valuable they are for your own paper.
6. Connect the cited work with your own research. Present how the referenced paper
adds value to your research, how you have applied the author’s findings to your theory
or, on the contrary, how your research contradicts the cited paper.
Constraints: The annotations for each source should follow an academic style – this means that
you must construct correct grammatical sentences that effectively summarize what each source
has to say. Specific guidelines to follow when completing this assignment are:
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A minimum of six credible sources of various types (book, article, website, etc.).
Sources focused around a narrowed issue or question of inquiry.
Adherence to MLA format.
Sources in alphabetical order according to author.
Thoughtful and complete annotations of 100-150 words.
Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Audience: This assignment should be directed at your scholarly peers, and you may assume that
they have only a casual familiarity with your topic or issue.
Assessment Rubric for Annotated Bibliography
CATEGORY
A
B
C
D
F
Quantity of
sources
Document
cites the
number of
sources
outlined in the
assignment.
Document is
one source
under the
required
number of
sources.
Document is
two sources
under the
required
number of
sources.
Document is
three sources
under the
required
number of
sources.
Document is
four or more
sources under
the number of
required
sources.
Most sources
cited can be
considered
reliable
and/or
trustworthy.
Excellent
Good variety
variety of
of sources;
sources; cites
cites four
more than four types of
types of
sources.
sources.
Some sources
can be
considered
reliable and/or
trustworthy.
Few sources
cited can be
considered
reliable and/or
trustworthy.
Little or no
reliable and/or
trustworthy
sources cited.
Adequate
variety of
sources; cites
three types of
sources.
Poor variety of
sources; cites
two types of
sources.
No variety of
sources; cites
only one type
of source.
All
annotations
are thoughtful,
complete, and
well written.
Most
annotations
are
thoughtful,
complete,
and well
written.
Most
annotations are
lacking in
completeness,
thought, and/or
writing quality.
All annotations
are lacking in
completeness,
thought, and/or
writing quality.
Citations are
formatted
correctly in
the document.
There are a
few
formatting
errors in the
document’s
citations.
Some
annotations are
well written,
but some are
lacking in
completeness,
thought, and
/or writing
quality.
There are some
formatting
errors in the
document’s
citations.
There are many
and/or frequent
formatting
errors in the
document’s
citations.
There is little
or no
adherence to
APA format in
the document.
4 pts.
Quality/ Reliability
of Sources
4 pts.
Variety of Sources
4 pts.
Writing fluency of
annotations
All sources
cited can be
considered
reliable and/or
trustworthy.
4 pts.
MLA and
Documentation
4 pts.
Total ____/20
Rubrics are subject to minor revisions. Students will be notified of changes.