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ENG 102 - How To Prepare An Annotated Bibliography

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34 views2 pages

ENG 102 - How To Prepare An Annotated Bibliography

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babytoya
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© © All Rights Reserved
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How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography: The Annotated Bibliography

Explanation, Process, Directions, and Examples


What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each


citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative
paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the
relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

Annotations vs. Abstracts

Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly
journal articles or in periodical indexes. Annotations are descriptive and critical; they may
describe the author's point of view, authority, or clarity and appropriateness of expression.

The Process

Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills:
concise exposition, succinct analysis, and informed library research.

First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful
information and ideas on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then
choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.

Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.

Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or
article. Include one or more sentences that (a) evaluate the authority or background of the
author, (b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with another
you have cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography topic.

Critically Appraising the Book, Article, or Document

For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the sources for your bibliography, see
How to Critically Analyze Information Sources. For information on the author's background
and views, ask at the reference desk for help finding appropriate biographical reference
materials and book review sources.

1
Choosing the Correct Citation Style

Check with your instructor to find out which style is preferred for your class. Online citation
guides for both the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological
Association (APA) styles are linked from the Library's Citation Management page.

Sample Annotated Bibliography Entries

The following example uses APA style (Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association, 7th edition, 2019) for the journal citation:

Waite, L., Goldschneider, F., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and the erosion of
traditional family orientations among young adults. American Sociological Review, 51(4),
541-554.
The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the
National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that
nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations,
moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis
strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males.
Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-
sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams
cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of
nonfamily living.

This example uses MLA style (MLA Handbook, 9th edition, 2021) for the journal citation.
For additional annotation guidance from MLA, see 5.132: Annotated Bibliographies.

Waite, Linda J., et al. "Nonfamily Living and the Erosion of Traditional Family Orientations
Among Young Adults." American Sociological Review, vol. 51, no. 4, 1986, pp. 541-554.

The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the
National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that
nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations,
moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis
strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males.
Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-
sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams
cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of
nonfamily living.

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