English 102: Composition: Annotated Bibliography

One of the most important aspects of conducting any research is compiling a bibliography of sources.  As you're going through the research process you may be asked - or you may find it useful - to create an annotated bibliography. Just like a regular bibliography this will contain publication information for the sources that you are citing in your work, but the annotated bibliography will also include a brief summary of the source and your own critical assessment of it's relevance, objectivity, and usefulness.  This allows you to keep an organized record of your own critical thinking throughout the research process.

So how exactly do you compose an annotation?  Well, a good annotation is made up of two parts:

1.  Summary

      Your summary of a source is basically a quick run through of the work's topic and main points.  You want to give a concise overview of the source, rather than a detailed account.  The length of your annotations may vary, but the summary is usually less important than your critical assessment of the work and will be shorter.  You want to dedicate more space and effort to evaluating the source.

 2. Evaluation/Assessment

      There are several different factors that can go into evaluating a source (they will be discussed in more detail on the second page of this guide) but it is generally a good idea to start by providing a scholarly or historical context for the work.  Discuss the thesis and conclusions that the author reaches and where those fit into the general scholarly thinking regarding the topic.  You might also consider the author's qualifications and past publications as well as how the source relates to your own work.  

1. Every entry in your annotated bibliography should begin with the citation for the source.  Specific formatting will depend on which citation style you are using.

2. Make the focus or thesis of the source in question clear immediately.  This will help to keep your annotations brief and to the point.

3. Don't forget to consider the author's qualifications and to mention any biases you may see in the work.  These things will inform your final assessment. 

4. Finish off with your critical evaluation of the work, taking into consideration the factors mentioned above. 

Annotation taken from "Annotated Bibliography Samples." The Owl at Purdue. Purdue U. Web. 9 November 2012. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/

The diagram above has  arrows with explanatory text pointing to the various parts of a sample annotation. Here is the text of the sample with the explanations rendered in bold italics and the section to which it refers underlined.

MLA Citation:  Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New York: Henry Hold and Company, 2001. Print.

The main focus of the work is identified, followed by a few brief details to summarize:  In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist’s experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Wal-Mart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

Qualifications are presented, and the source's chief weakness is addresses:  An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. 

Final assessment:  Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.