An annotated bibliography is a list of sources written in a consistent citation style, each containing a short evaluative summary of the source. Here are some tips for compiling an annotated bibliography.
Know What the Requirements Are
- What citation style are you using?
- Do you have a required number of sources?
- Is there a year limit? In general, the most recent 3-5 years will give you a current understanding of the research literature.
- What should the annotations include? You might be asked to include or focus on specific details in your annotations.
Find Relevant Sources
- Use our suggested databases for education topics along with Google Scholar
- Use database limiters to filter your results to academic/scholarly sources and, as needed, to specific year ranges, languages, etc.
- Vet any source you find from Google Scholar as they are not, by default, always peer reviewed journal articles.
- Develop a strategy for the keywords you'll use. How are you defining your topic? Are there more specific terms, or variations of them, that will lead to better results? Pay attention to the titles you do find and see how they approach the topic.
- Consult a librarian if you want to discuss your research strategy.
Citing
- You can generate citations for articles within the databases and from Google Scholar - but double check them for accuracy.
Writing Annotations
- Follow any specific guidelines in your assignment as to length, detail of evaluation, etc.
- In general, an annotation should include:
- A brief summary of the source's primary argument and findings
- An evaluation of the source's credibility, and any bias or limitations you see
- A discussion of how the source is relevant to your overall topic
