Try to be objective, and give explanations if you state any opinions. Identify the observations or conclusions of the author. Use the third person (e.g., he, she, the author) instead of the first person (e.g., I, my, me)Įxplain the author’s expertise, point of view, and any bias he/she may have.Ĭompare to other sources on the same topic that you have also cited to show similarities and differences.Įxplain why each source is useful for your research topic and how it relates to your topic.Įvaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source. Start with the same format as a regular Works Cited/References list.Įach annotation should be one paragraph, between three to six sentences long (about 150- 200 words).ĭescribe the main ideas, arguments, themes, theses, or methodology, and identify the intended audience. Do not add an extra line between the citations. The focus is on description and evaluation.Īll lines should be double-spaced. Evaluative annotations can help you learn about your topic, develop a thesis statement, decide if a specific source will be useful for your assignment, and determine if there is enough valid information available to complete your project.

The focus is on description.Īn evaluative annotation includes a summary as listed above but also critically assesses the work for accuracy, relevance, and quality. They also can serve either or both of the following purposes: Types of AnnotationsĪ summary annotation describes the source by answering the following questions: who wrote the document, what does the document discuss, when and where was the document written, why was the document produced, and how was it provided to the public. Annotated bibliographies can be part of a larger research project, or can be a stand-alone report in itself. An annotation is a short summary and/or critical evaluation of a source. The annotated bibliography looks like a Works Cited page but includes an annotation after each source cited. An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic.

Annotated bibliography example mla 9