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Research: Annotated Bibliographies: Start here

What is an annotated bibliography?

Annotated bibliographies are lists of resources with notes on each item.

All you have to do is comment on everything you've included in your bibliography.

Comment on what?  Briefly describe the resource and evaluate it.

  • Author / Authority
    Who created this resource? Are they an expert in the field?
  • Contents
    What information does it contain?  What is its scope? Who is its audience?
  • Relevance
    Why did you select this resource? What information is important for your purposes?
  • Critique 
    Compare this resource to others in your bibliography.  What is the author's bias?

MLA Style of Bibliographies

MLA Style Works Cited Examples:
 
Book
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Location: Publisher, Year. Medium of Publication.
Vines, Lois. Poe Abroad: Influence, Reputation, Affinities. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1999. Print.
 
Article (from a print journal)
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of publication.
Baraban, Elena V. "The Motive for Murder in 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe." Rocky Mountain Review of Language & Literature Fall 2004: 47-62. Print.
 
Article (from a database)

Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Title of Database. Medium of publication. Date of access.
Baraban, Elena V. "The Motive for Murder in 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe." Rocky Mountain Review of Language & Literature Fall 2004: 47-62. Literary Reference Center. Web. 13 June 2011.
 
Webpage
 
Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). "Name of Webpage." Name of Site. Version number. Organization/sponsor/publisher, date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.
"Poe's Life." Poe Museum. Poe Museum, n.d. Web. 13 June 2011.

Further Resources

Here are some other sites that provide information about annotated bibliographies:

  • How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography | Cornell University Library
    Provides explanations about and examples of writing annotated bibliographies. Written by Michael Engle, Amy Blumenthal, and Tony Cosgrave from Olin Library Reference, Research & Learning Services, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  • Annotated Bibliographies | The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue
    Provides definitions about, reasons for, and formats of annotated bibliographies. Written by Dana Bisignani and Allen Brizee from The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue, Purdue University.
  • Annotated Bibliography Example | The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue
    A discussion about an example of an annotated bibliography, including thoughts to keep in mind while writing an annotation. Written by Dana Bisignani and Allen Brizee from The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue, Purdue University.
  • Annotated Bibliography Samples | The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue
    Actual samples of annotated bibliographies (in MLA, APA, and Chicago), with overview and explanation. From The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue, Purdue University.
  • Annotated Bibliographies | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    "This handout will explain why annotated bibliographies are useful for researchers, provide an explanation of what constitutes an annotation, describe various types of annotations and styles for writing them, and offer multiple examples of annotated bibliographies in the MLA, APA, and CBE/CSE styles of citation." From The Writing Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  • Annotated Bibliography | The University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Links with responses to FAQs about annotated bibliographies. From The Writer's Handbook, The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  • Preparing an Annotated Bibliography [PDF] | IUPUI
    "This handout is designed to show you how to create an annotated bibliography. Specifically, it will guide you through the process ... by 1. describing in general terms the meaning of the words “annotated bibliography,” 2. explaining in general terms how to write an annotated bibliography, and 3. offering an example of what an annotated bibliography could look like." From School of Liberal Arts and University Writing Center, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.