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Other Helpful Guides
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Annotated BibliographyFrom the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Explains different kinds of annotations.
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Annotated BibliographyUniversity of North Carolina Writing Center's guide for annotated bibliographies.
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Annotated Bibliography TutorialFrom University of Maryland Global Campus. Includes how to tell the difference between an annotation and an abstract.
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Cómo Preparar una Bibliografía AnotadaEn español
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Highpoint University: Annotated BibliographiesA simplified explanation of annotated bibliographies, including MLA and APA explanations and examples.
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How to Prepare an Annotated BibliographyA succinct explanation from a Cornell University librarian with examples!
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Writing an Annotated BibliographyEastern Washington University's writers' center gives helpful tips for writing annotated bibliographies.
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Why?
Why do an annotated bibliography?
Usually, the first time you do an annotated bibliography, it'll be for a class assignment. Annotated bibliographies have an important place in the research process, though, whether or not they were assigned. Gathering the resources you plan to use and making note of how you think they will be useful helps set you up to write a successful paper.
Creating an annotated bibliography is a way to learn more about your research topic and to find out what other people have said about it.
How do I start?
How do I start?
If you are doing an annotated bibliography for an assignment, the first thing to do is carefully read the assignment.
You need to know:
- How many resources do you need?
- For undergraduate assignments, professors usually ask for three to six items. Make sure you know how many items you are looking for. Make sure you know if there is a maximum number of items as well.
- What kinds of resources do you need?
- Articles? Books? Book Chapters? Web sites? Videos?
- If your professor does not specify, look carefully at any examples given.
- Primary sources or secondary sources?
- In HCC assignments, the phrase "primary sources" usually refers to historical documents made by people directly involved in a historical event. Please ask your professor or a librarian if you are not sure what your professor means.
- Do the resources need to be scholarly, peer-reviewed items?
- Scholarly, peer-reviewed items can be found in library databases.
- You can use special searches to tell the databases to look for only scholarly, peer-reviewed items.
- Find out more about scholarly, peer-reviewed items by clicking this link.
- These are also referred to as academic articles. Look for the phrases "peer-reviewed" or "refereed."
- Where should you get the resources?
- Are you required to use the HCC library?
- Are you required to use only books or only online resources?
- Are you required to use the HCC library databases?
- Can you use items from the free internet (eg a Google search)?
- Does your professor want you to critique or analyze the source or just describe it?
- Annotated bibliography assignments are usually evaluative / critical / analytical.
- What citation style is required?
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How to write an annotated bibliographyAn article by an Australian school librarian that includes a helpful chart of questions to think about when working on an annotated bibliography.