An annotated bibliography is a combination of the words annotation and bibliography. An annotation is a set of notes, comments, or critiques.
An annotated bibliography is a combination of the words annotation and bibliography. An annotation is a set of notes, comments, or critiques. A bibliography is list of references that helps a reader identify sources of information. An annotated bibliography is a list of references that not only identifies the sources of information but also includes information such as a summary, a critique or analysis, and an application of those sources’ information. Your annotations should cover three areas (formatted in three paragraphs):
1. Summary: What did the author do? Why? What did he/she find?
2. Analysis: Was the author’s method sound? What information was missing? Is this a scholarly source?
3. Application: Does this article fill a gap in literature? How would you be able to apply this method/study to your particular study? Is the article universal?
General Format
Your annotated bibliography as a whole should follow these guidelines in formatting:
Alphabetized by author. Just as you would in a reference list, be sure to put your sources in alphabetical order by the authors’ last names.
No headings. Because you will be discussing one reference at a time, there is no need for headings between sources or paragraphs.
Brief. Annotations are usually one to three paragraphs. Remember, this is an annotated bibliography, not a research paper. Try to keep your annotations concise and clear.
Annotation Format
No direct quotations. Because annotations give your summary, analysis, and application, there is no need for you to use direct quotations. An annotation is meant to be your own interpretation of the information.
No referrals to the first or second person. Remember to be objective and remove yourself from your annotations. Annotated bibliographies do not allow for the use of I, me, my, we, our, you, or us.
No reference list. Because your sources are already listed in reference format, there is no need for an additional list; it would be redundant.
Like all assignments, annotated bibliographies should be doubled-spaced, in Times New Roman 12pt. font, and use appropriate reference list formatting (including hanging indents) for the source information.
Summary:
For each source listed, you will begin with a summary of the information you found in that specific source. The summary section gives your reader an overview of the important information from that source. Remember that you are focusing on a source’s method and results. The questions below can help you produce an appropriate, scholarly summary:
What is the topic of the source?
What actions did the author perform within the study and why?
What were the methods of the author?
What was the theoretical basis for the study?
What were the conclusions of the study? Remember, a summary should be similar to an abstract of a source and written in past tense (e.g. “The authors found that…” or “The studies showed…”), but it should not be the source’s abstract. Each summary should be written in your own words.
Critique/Analysis:
After each summary, your annotations should include a critique or analysis of each source. In this section, you will want to focus on the strengths of the article or the study (the things that would make your reader want to read this source), but do not be afraid to address any deficiencies or areas that need improvement. The idea of a critique is that you act as a critic— addressing both the good and the bad.
Was the research question well framed and significant?
How well did the authors relate the research question to the existing body of knowledge?
Did the article make an original contribution to the existing body of knowledge?
Was the theoretical framework for the study adequate and appropriate?
Has the researcher communicated clearly and fully?
Was the research method appropriate? Is there a better way to find answers to the research question?
Was the sample size sufficient?
Were there adequate controls for researcher bias?
Is the research replicable?
What were the limitations in this study?
How generalizable are the findings?
Are the conclusions justified by the results? Did the writer take into account differing social and cultural contexts?
Application:
Finally, the last part of each annotation should justify the source’s use and address how the source might fit into your own research. Consider a few questions: • • • •
How is this source different than others in the same field or on the same topic?
How does this source inform your future research?
Does this article fill a gap in the literature?
How would you be able to apply this method to your area of focus or project?
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