An Annotated Bibliography is a list of citations to articles and other sources. Each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. Your annotations should follow a citation, annotation, then repeat format. Your annotations should also include the following three sections and answer their corresponding questions:
- Summarize the key points of the source: What is the main focus of the work cited? Why is this relevant to your paper? What special features of the source are helpful, such as its analytical framework, statistical background, eyewitness account, or timeliness, etc.? What are the conclusions of the source?
- Assess the source (critical evaluation): What is the background and credibility of the source and author? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source biased or objective? What is the goal of your source?
- Reflection: Was this source helpful to you? How can you use this source in your research paper? What conclusions did you reach after reading the source? Has it changed how you think about your topic? How does this source make you think about your question and build your arguments? Does the source support or counter any of your arguments? How will you apply the source’s theoretical positions, issues discussed, study data, and claims made based on that data to your research question and arguments?
Use this Annotated Bibliography example from the UNC Chapel Hill for more help putting together your Annotated Bibliography.
