Welcome to the MC Library research skills guide on annotated bibliography. This guide is designed to help you understand what an annotated bibliography is and learn the process of creating one.
An annotation is a brief note on each of the sources used in your research paper. Annotated bibliography is a list of these annotated sources. An annotated bibliography informs the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source cited. The process of creating an annotated bibliography involves critical thinking.
Make sure you understand which citation style you need to use (MLA? APA?) and the level of detail your professor expects in your annotations.
Locate sources that are relevant to your research topic. If you're not sure where to start, look at MC Library's subject research guides, or do a simple keyword search in RaptorSearch.
Create citations for each of your sources using the citation style your professor requires.
Evaluate and reflect upon each source format by asking yourself who the author is, where they got their information, and whether the information is reliable and accurate. Consider how each source compares to other sources you selected. In your annotation, explain why you want to use the source and how it complements your argument.
Abstract vs Annotated Bibliography
An abstract is a descriptive summary of the source.
An annotated bibliography describes the source and critically evaluates it!
Literature Review vs Annotated Bibliography
A literature review combines more than one source under one theme and provides a general analysis.
An annotated bibliography examines each source separately and critically evaluates it for accuracy and relevance to the research topic.
Learn more about creating an annotated bibliography and see examples using the links below.
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