{{How to Prepare an How to Prepare an Annotated BibliographyAnnotated Bibliography

PurposePurpose: To : To informinform the reader of the the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources being cited in the research.sources being cited in the research.

What it IsWhat it Is: A list of citations for books, : A list of citations for books,

articles, and documents. articles, and documents.

StructureStructure: Each citation is followed by a brief : Each citation is followed by a brief paragraph – the annotation – that describes paragraph – the annotation – that describes and evaluates the source. This paragraph is and evaluates the source. This paragraph is usually about 150 words in length. usually about 150 words in length.

WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY? BIBLIOGRAPHY?

To Create an annotated bibliography, you To Create an annotated bibliography, you need: a concise exposition (introduction), need: a concise exposition (introduction), succinct analysis, and informed library succinct analysis, and informed library research (i.e., how or why is this source research (i.e., how or why is this source valuable to your research? Make sure you are valuable to your research? Make sure you are following academic research methods.)following academic research methods.)

First, locate and record MLA citations of First, locate and record MLA citations of books, periodicals, and documents that may books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your contain useful information and ideas on your topic. topic.

Briefly examine and review the resources you Briefly examine and review the resources you have found in your search. Then choose those have found in your search. Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic. (REMEMBER: Having two or on your topic. (REMEMBER: Having two or three sources that provide the same three sources that provide the same information is a GOOD thing. This proves the information is a GOOD thing. This proves the validity of the evidence you are using to validity of the evidence you are using to support your claim.)support your claim.)

THE PROCESS THE PROCESS

Once you have found the sources you Once you have found the sources you wanted to include in your research: wanted to include in your research:

- Write a concise annotation that - Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme of the summarizes the central theme of the book or article. Include one or more book or article. Include one or more sentences thatsentences that

(a) evaluate the authority or (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, background of the author,

(b) comment on the intended audience,(b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with (c) compare or contrast this work with

another you have cited, or another you have cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates (d) explain how this work illuminates

your bibliography topic.your bibliography topic.

The Process ContinuedThe Process Continued

For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the sources for your bibliography, think about the following sources for your bibliography, think about the following questions:questions:

What are the author's credentials--institutional What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation? affiliation?

Have you seen the author's name cited in other Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? (respected authors are sources or bibliographies? (respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars)  cited frequently by other scholars) 

When was the source published? When was the source published? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is this a first edition? Is this a first edition? If the source is published by a university press, it is If the source is published by a university press, it is

likely to be scholarly likely to be scholarly Is this a Is this a popularpopular magazine or magazine or scholarlyscholarly journal? journal? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a

general?general?

CRITICALLY APPRAISING THE CRITICALLY APPRAISING THE BOOK, ARTICLE, OR BOOK, ARTICLE, OR DOCUMENT DOCUMENT

Is there a bibliography? Is there a bibliography? Is the information covered fact, opinion, or Is the information covered fact, opinion, or

propaganda? propaganda? Does the information appear to be valid and Does the information appear to be valid and

well-researched, or is it questionable and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? unsupported by evidence?

Are the ideas and arguments advanced more Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? on the same topic?

Does the source Does the source extensivelyextensively or or marginallymarginally cover your topic? cover your topic?

Is the material Is the material primaryprimary or or secondarysecondary in in nature? nature?

Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, such as such as Book Review IndexBook Review Index, , Book Review Book Review Digest,Digest, OR OR Periodical AbstractsPeriodical Abstracts

More Questions…..More Questions…..

This example uses the MLA This example uses the MLA format for a journal citation:format for a journal citation:

Flynn, Richard. “The Kindergarten of New Consciousness Gwendolyn Brooks and the Social Construction of Childhood ” African American Review 34, no. 3 (2000 Fall): 483-99  

Identify the title of the article?Identify the title of the journal where the article appeared?

Complete bibliographic information. Complete bibliographic information. Some or all of the following: Some or all of the following:

Information to explain the authority and/or Information to explain the authority and/or qualifications of the author. For example: qualifications of the author. For example: Dr. William Smith, a history professor at Dr. William Smith, a history professor at XYZ University, based his book on twenty XYZ University, based his book on twenty years of research. years of research.

Scope and main purpose of the work. Scope and main purpose of the work. Any biases that you detect. Any biases that you detect. Intended audience and level of reading Intended audience and level of reading

difficulty. difficulty. The relationship, if any, to other works in The relationship, if any, to other works in

the area of study. the area of study. A summary comment, e.g., "A popular A summary comment, e.g., "A popular

account directed at educated adults." account directed at educated adults." The annotation should be about 100 to The annotation should be about 100 to

200 words. 200 words.

What an annotation should What an annotation should include:include:

Goulart, R. (1989). Goulart, R. (1989). The Great Comic The Great Comic Book Artists, Volume 2.Book Artists, Volume 2. New York: St New York: St Martin's Press.Martin's Press.

The alphabetically arranged entries The alphabetically arranged entries include one page each for the artist include one page each for the artist biography and black-and-white biography and black-and-white reprinted art. The subjective choices reprinted art. The subjective choices for inclusion reflect a pronounced for inclusion reflect a pronounced American, corporate bias. This slant American, corporate bias. This slant and the blurry comic-book and the blurry comic-book reproductions render the title a cut reproductions render the title a cut below Goulart's usual high standards. below Goulart's usual high standards.

Book ExampleBook Example

Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). The Guinness The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Encyclopedia of Popular Music. London: London: Guinness.Guinness.

Very comprehensive reference book of Very comprehensive reference book of 3,296 pages (more than 10,000 entries) 3,296 pages (more than 10,000 entries) encompassing all styles of popular music, encompassing all styles of popular music, including jazz. Primarily biographical, but including jazz. Primarily biographical, but does contain record label histories. Entries does contain record label histories. Entries from 150 to 3,000 words, though some from 150 to 3,000 words, though some important artists have longer entries. Most important artists have longer entries. Most artists from UK and US, though artists from UK and US, though additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro-additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro-pop artists from outside these countries. pop artists from outside these countries. Most entries include discography. Most entries include discography.

Another Example…Another Example…