What is an Annotated Bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a Reference page but includes an additional paragraph below each citation, known as an annotation. Unlike a simple bibliography, an annotated bibliography provides a summary of each source and some assessment of its value or relevance. Depending on the assignment, annotative bibliographies can be described as either informative or evaluative.
Informative Annotations
An informative annotation points out the core arguments and conclusions of a work without making judgments on their quality, credibility, or validity. It provides a concise summary explaining the topic, content, and main ideas of the source. The goal is simply to inform readers of the source’s content and purpose. Here are some key elements typically included in an informative annotation:
Summarizes the central theme or purpose of the work
Describes the content and organization of the source
Discusses the sources intended audience
Mentions the research methods used
Points out conclusions and additional questions raised
Evaluative Annotations
An evaluative annotation goes beyond just summarizing and also includes an assessment or critique of the work. It provides a critical analysis of the source’s value, reliability, accuracy, persuasiveness, authority and place in its field. Some of the things typically assessed in an evaluative annotation include:
Overall quality of the information and arguments presented
Credibility and qualifications of the author(s)
Currency and importance of the scholarship
Limitations, potential biases, or issues in argument/conclusions
Value and relevance to a particular research topic
Formatting an APA Annotated Bibliography
The specific formatting for an APA annotated bibliography depends on whether it is for one source (a citation and single annotation) or multiple sources. Regardless, it always needs to be alphabetized by the first author’s last name.
Single Source: The annotation is written in block format, indented 0.5 inches from the left margin (also known as a “hanging indent”). It is single spaced with a double space between the citation and annotation.
Doe, J. (2019). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on the topic. The author analyzes three major studies published in 2018 and synthesizes their findings. Several new theories on cause and effect are proposed.
Multiple Sources: Each source citation and annotation are separated by a blank line. The citations are left aligned while the annotations have a 0.5 inch hanging indent. It is still single spaced with double spacing between citation and annotation.
Doe, J. (2019). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume(issue), pages.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on the topic. The author analyzes three major studies published in 2018 and synthesizes their findings. Several new theories on cause and effect are proposed.
Smith, S. (2018). Book title. Publisher City, State: Publisher Name.
In this seminal work, the author challenges long held assumptions about the topic. Through detailed analysis of historical records, interviews, and first-hand accounts, new contextual insights are revealed. While pioneering in scope, some of the conclusions rely on limited empirical data.
Writing the Annotations
To write high-quality annotations, it is important to carefully read and evaluate each source to summarize its most important elements. The following process can help create effective APA annotated bibliography entries:
Record bibliographic citation of the source using proper APA style guidelines.
Read through the source thoroughly, taking notes on key ideas, arguments, methods, conclusions, etc.
Draft a single paragraph summarizing these important elements in 120-150 words for an informative annotation or 150-220 words for an evaluative one.
Re-read the annotation to ensure it accurately reflects the source without incorporating outside opinions.
Revise for clarity, conciseness, and correct grammar/formatting before finalizing the annotation.
Repeat process for each source according to your assignment guidelines.
Check completed annotated bibliography follows proper APA style formatting rules.
Annotated bibliographies require analysis and critical evaluation of sources for relevance to a research topic. When done well, they can help readers quickly understand a body of research and identify the most useful materials to examine in depth. Following the guidelines above will help create an organized, well-constructed APA annotated bibliography.