What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

To annotate means “to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online).

Merriam-Webster provides us with three useful definitions for bibliography:

1: the history, identification, or description of writings or publications

2a: a list often with descriptive or critical notes of writings relating to a particular subject, period, or author, b: a list of works written by an author or printed by a publishing house

3: the works or a list of the works referred to in a text or consulted by the author in its production (Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online).

An annotated bibliography is a research tool; it is one document that contains descriptive and critical information about items you have found in research that might be useful. Generally speaking, it is not something you turn in for a grade; it is “database” for your own use. In a way, an annotated bibliography is like a diary. It helps you keep track of what you have found (a description), where and how you found it (citation information), and how it might or might not be relevant to your research (critical evaluation).

The annotation is the part you write; it is not a summary or paraphrase; it is your interpretation and evaluation. The bibliographic entry is the APA or MLA citation that is used in reference lists.

In this annotated bibliography, describe and evaluate the contents and attributes of the work you have found. Write a narrative paragraph of 50-100 words providing that information and an assessment. List the works alphabetically as you would in a reference list at the end of an academic paper. The descriptive and critical paragraph follows each listing. See the example below.

Lax, E. (2000). Woody Allen: A biography (2nd ed). New York: DaCapo