Annotated Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of sources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for
researching a topic. Bibliographies are sometimes called "references" or "works cited" depending on the
style format you are using. A bibliography usually just includes the bibliographic information (i.e., the
author, title, publisher, etc.).

An annotation is a summary and/or evaluation.

Therefore, an annotated bibliography includes a summary and/or evaluation of each of the sources.
Depending on your project or the assignment, your annotations may do one or more of the following:

Summarize: Some annotations merely summarize the source. What are the main arguments?
What is the point of this book or article? What topics are covered? If someone asked what this
article/book is about, what would you say? The length of your annotations will determine how
detailed your summary is.

Assess: After summarizing a source, it may be helpful to evaluate it. Is it a useful source? How
does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is the information reliable? Is this source
biased or objective? What is the goal of this source?

Reflect: Once you've summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your
research. Was this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you
use this source in your research project? Has it changed how you think about your topic?

Stem Cell Research: An Annotated Bibliography (EXAMPLE)

Holland, Suzanne. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate : Science, Ethics, and Public Policy. Boston: MIT Press,
2001. Print.

This is the annotation of the above source. In this example, I am following MLA 2009 (3rd ed.) guidelines for the bibliographic
information listed above. If I were really writing an annotation for this source, I would offer a brief summary of what this book
says about stem cell research.

After a brief summary, it would be appropriate to assess this source and offer some criticisms of it. Does it seem like a reliable and
current source? Why? Is the research biased or objective? Are the facts well documented? Who is the author? Is she qualified in
this subject? Is this source scholarly, popular, some of both?

The length of your annotation will depend on the assignment or on the purpose of your annotated bibliography. After summarizing
and assessing, you can now reflect on this source. How does it fit into your research? Is this a helpful resource? Too scholarly? Not
scholarly enough? Too general/specific? Since "stem cell research" is a very broad topic, has this source helped you to narrow your
topic?
Information cited from: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/

Directions for the annotated bibliography:

1. Include the following types of resources:

At least 2 print sources (book, encyclopedia, pamphlets, etc.)
At least 3 web sources (websites, databases, etc.)

2. The paper must be written in MLA format. The bibliography should be typed and
single spaced with double spaces between paragraphs and each source. Use 12
point font with 1 inch margins. Type your name, class period, and date in the
upper left-hand corner.
 3. For each source you must write at least one paragraph that summarizes,
assesses (Is it a reliable source and why?), and reflects (Is this resource helpful
and does this source add to the information I need to present?)

4. The following information MUST BE included in your annotated bibliography for full
credit:
I. Duties and Expectations IV. Preparation and Qualification
II. Earnings/Salary a. Schooling and or training required
a. Typical earnings b. Certification or licensing required
b. How workers are compensated c. Advancement possibilities
c. Benefits d. Desirable skills and personal
III. Working Conditions characteristics
a. Typical hours worked V. Future of Your Field
b. Workplace environment a. Growing or declining field?
c. Physical activities and susceptibility to b. Number of job openings compared with
injury number of job seekers
d. Special equipment needed c. Job security
e. Extent of travel d. Influence of technology

Annotated Bibliography Rubric

20 10 0
Sources Used at least 2 print Used some print Used resources from
sources and 3 web sources and some only one source
sources web sources
Summarize Summarized all Summarized some Did not summarize
sources of the sources sources
Assess Determined whether Determined whether Did not assess the
each source was each source was reliability of the
reliable and cited reliable but did not source used.
evidence cite evidence
Reflect Determined whether Determined whether Does not reflect on
this source was this source was research
helpful to your helpful to your
research goals and research goals but
explained why does not explain
why
Information All required Some required Little or no required
information about information about information about
your career was your career was your career was
included included included
Format The annotated The annotated The annotated
bibliography was bibliography was bibliography was not
formatted correctly mostly formatted formatted correctly
including MLA, correctly including
spacing, margins, MLA, spacing,
and type-font margins, and type-
font