The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used for annotating bibliographies and creating citations for academic writing in the humanities. An MLA annotated bibliography provides readers with a brief description and an evaluation of each source. This helps readers decide whether the source will be useful for their own research needs. The goal of an annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
An MLA annotated bibliography requires the bibliographic information to be organized alphabetically by the author’s last name. Basic MLA formatting rules apply such as using a 12-point font, double spacing the entire document, leaving 1 inch margins all around, and including a header with your last name and the page number in the top right corner of each page.
Each annotated bibliography entry begins with the full bibliographic citation formatted properly according to MLA style. This should immediately be followed by a paragraph that serves as the annotation. The annotation paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin and be between 100-150 words in length.
The annotation paragraph should achieve a few key goals:
Provide a concise summary of the central theme and scope of the source. This gives context for how it relates to your topic of study. Summarize the main argument or purpose of the work in your own words.
Discuss the source’s key ideas, conclusions, or research methods. You want to reveal to the reader how the source contributes to your annotated bibliography project. What knowledge or perspective does it provide regarding your topic?
Point out implications, applications, or limitations relevant for research. Note how the source may prove useful or not as useful for your research. Were methods or conclusions limited? Were important viewpoints missing? This aids readers in determining the source’s value for their own work.
Finish by noting the intended audience or reading level. Is the source aimed at students, a general readership, or scholars? Knowing the scope and intended readership will help other researchers determine if the source matches their needs.
Here are a few examples of properly formatted MLA annotated bibliography entries to demonstrate:
Thomas, William. “Media Coverage of Political Scandals in the 2020 Election.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 3, 2021, pp. 456-471.
In this peer-reviewed journal article, Thomas analyzes media coverage of several high-profile political scandals during the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Through a quantitative content analysis of newspaper articles, television transcripts, and social media posts, he finds that biased language subtly influenced public perceptions. The study considers coverage across multiple major outlets and sheds light on the complex relationship between media messaging and political scandals. Its methods and findings would prove insightful for research on media framing of political events.
Levins, Harry. From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth Century America. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014.
Drawing on over 200 interviews and historical archives, Levins offers an in-depth sociological examination of changing courtship practices in America over the last century. He compares traditions of courtship in the early 1900s, when most romantic encounters occurred in living rooms under parental supervision, to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Levins outlines broader cultural shifts that influenced intimacy and relationship norms among younger generations. Though aimed at academics and general readers interested in American social history, undergraduate researchers exploring similar topics may find this monograph a useful starting point.
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New World Library, 2008.
Campbell’s classic 1949 work analyzes common patterns in mythologies and storytelling across ancient and modern cultures. He argues that most legendary heroes undergo similar archetypal journeys involving stages of separation, initiation, and return. Providing compelling cross-cultural examples, Campbell sheds light on humanity’s shared symbolic language as expressed through mythology. Though published over 50 years ago, his ideas still influence scholarly discussions on comparative religion, folklore, and literary theory. Advanced undergraduates or early graduate students of related fields would appreciate this foundational text.
This MLA annotated bibliography essay demonstrates the proper format for entries, including full bibliographic citations followed by 100-150 word annotations summarizing each source while also commenting on usefulness, scope, limitations, and intended readership. Well-written annotations aid researchers by distilling the essence and significance of sources at a glance, helping evaluate their value and relevance. Following MLA style guides readers to consistently and cohesively present bibliographic entries and annotations, creating a valuable research tool for sharing scholarly materials. Annotated bibliographies allow writers to compile, organize, and exchange credible sources in a clear, standardized academic format.