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What is an annotated bibliography?

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Like any bibliography, an annotated bibliography is an alphabetical list of research sources. In addition to bibliographic data, an annotated bibliography provides a concise summary of each source and some assessment of its value or relevance. 

Depending on your assignment, an annotated bibliography may be one stage in a larger project, or it may be an independent project standing on its own.

Annotated Bibliography = Bibliographic Citation (in appropriate citation style) + Annotation (summary and assessment of the source)

Components of an Annotation

  • Focus or scope of the work
  • Thesis or main argument
  • Intended audience
  • Author's methodology: sources used, methodological process, theoretical perspective
  • Relevance to your topic: how it fits into the literature, source's scholarly contribution to the field