Order Instructions

What are the purposes of the annotated bibliography?

To format your sources into full APA references (these will later make up the Reference page of your essay).

To help you understand what you’ve researched while you write your essay.

To evaluate your response by analyzing source credibility.

To begin formulating your position in response to the source (to “join the conversation”).

How to Begin:

First, using your course resources on finding sources, locate at least two scholarly sources that represent positions on your topic. This source selection should be guided by a research question.

Next, read and annotate (take notes, highlight, underline, pose questions, respond) to your sources. Your goal is to ensure you understand the source’s main points.

Then, reference the book, article, or document using APA style citation and begin writing your annotations.

How to Annotate:

Paragraph 1 (Summarize): Completely and respectfully summarize the source. What argument is being made? What evidence is given in support of the argument? Be detailed and specific. What strategies does the author use to make her/his argument?

How It Should Look:

Be sure to consult the example provided. A few key points:

Bibliography must be in alphabetical order by the first item in the reference citation (usually the author’s last name)

Bibliographies must have hanging indent on the second and each additional line of each source:

Select the text where you want to add a hanging indent.

Go to Home > Paragraph dialog launcher. > Indents and Spacing.

Under Special, select Hanging. You can adjust the depth of the indent using the By field.

Select OK.

Bibliographies must be double-spaced.