The document provides information on what constitutes an annotated bibliography including definitions, examples, and guidelines. An annotated bibliography is a list of citations and their sources accompanied by a brief descriptive paragraph (annotation) evaluating each source. The annotation summarizes the source, assesses its usefulness for the research topic, and establishes its credibility. Samples demonstrate the four required elements for each annotation: full citation, 2-sentence summary, 1-2 sentence evaluation of usefulness, and 2-sentence reliability explanation. The document advises on the differences between annotations and abstracts, with annotations including critical evaluation rather than just description.

1. Annotated
Bibliography

2. One Step Further:
The Annotated Bibliography
 The annotated bibliography is similar to the works cited page in
that it lists the sources used in a paper.
 However, the annotated bibliography is compiled before the
paper is written.
 How can a list of works used be put together before the paper
is even written?
 The annotated bibliography is a list of potential texts you will
use in your paper.

3. Definition of an Annotated
Bibliography
 An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books,
articles, and documents.
 Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words)
descriptive and evaluative paragraph, which is the annotation.
 The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the
relevancy, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
 It is also to get the writer to start identifying which secondary
sources he/she is going to consider using.

4. Sample Annotated
Bibliography
This article reviews differing English for Specific Purposes
(ESP) trends in practice and in theory. Belcher categorizes
the trends into three non-exclusive sects: sociodiscoursal,
sociocultural, and sociopolitical. The author concludes
these two schools of thought address the issue of ESP
pandering to “monologic” communities and the field of
genre is only beginning to grasp the multitude of
complexities within this potentially valuable approach to
the instruction of language—and in turn, writing. This text
is very useful to develop the second main point of my essay
considering sociocultural factors and their influence on
language learning. This paper is also reliable as it is
published in a journal and published in 2014. Moreover,
Belcher, D. D. (2014). Trends in teaching English for specific
purposes. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24(3), 165-186.
Retrieved from https://awc.ashford.edu/tocw-sample-annotated-
bibliography.html

5. Sample Annotated
Bibliography
This article reviews differing English for Specific
Purposes (ESP) trends in practice and in theory. Belcher
categorizes the trends into three non-exclusive sects:
sociodiscoursal, sociocultural, and sociopolitical. The
author concludes these two schools of thought address
the issue of ESP pandering to “monologic” communities
and the field of genre is only beginning to grasp the
multitude of complexities within this potentially valuable
approach to the instruction of language—and in turn,
writing. This text is very useful to develop the second
main point of my essay considering sociocultural factors
and their influence on language learning. This paper is
also reliable as it is published in a journal and published
in 2014. Moreover, the author is a reputable and expert
in this field and the text is objective rather than bias. It
Belcher, D. D. (2014). Trends in teaching English for specific
purposes. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24(3), 165-186.
Retrieved from https://awc.ashford.edu/tocw-sample-annotated-
bibliography.html Full Citation
Summary
of the text
(25 pts)
Usefulness to
your
research
paper.
Reliability
explanation

6. For every annotation…
Each annotation should include the following
1. Full citation of the text
2. Summarize the main point(s) of the work (2 sentences).
3. Explain its usefulness to your research (1-2 sentences).
4. Why is it a reliable source (2 sentences).
It is these four elements on which you will be
graded for each annotation!

7. Annotation vs. Abstract
 During your research, you will come across what is called an
abstract, usually at the beginning of the article (before it begins)
or on the title page of an online entry.
 An abstract is purely descriptive summary about a text. It is
written after a text is completed and used for quick reference for
the reader.
 An abstract should never be used in place of an annotation (nor
should it be used as cited material in an essay.)
 An annotation is descriptive and critical; it exposes the author's
point of view, clarity and appropriateness or relevance of the
article to the writer’s own essay.

8. Works Consulted
 With permission to reproduce from the LibGuide: How to Prepare an
Annotated Bibliography: The Annotated Bibliography
 http://guides.library.cornell.edu/content.php?pid=448160)
 OWL Purdue: Annotated Bibliography
 https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/