An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that includes a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph after each citation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source cited.
Some annotated bibliographies will call for a cursory description in preparation for a research project, while others will require more detailed analysis. Ask your professor about the level of detail needed in the annotations.
Bibliographies are traditionally arranged by Author and then Title or Year, and this arrangement can be used for annotated bibliographies as well. However, it may make more sense to organize an annotated bibliography thematically or chronologically. Use your own judgment, or ask your professor for guidance.
When you store your citations and notes in a citation manager, it takes care of the formatting, allowing you to concentrate on research and analysis.
You can import records from most of our databases in just a few clicks, and export to Word or Google Docs just as easily. Once you start using a citation manager, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
An example from Abstract Expressionist Women Painters: An Annotated Bibliography:
For more examples, search the library catalog for the keyword phrase annotated bibliography in the title.
Use this sheet to help you organize your thoughts while looking at a source you plan to include in an annotated bibliography. Use one sheet per source.