The document provides guidance on creating an annotated bibliography. It defines key terms like annotation and bibliography and explains the purpose and types of annotations. It also outlines the process of creating an annotated bibliography, including conducting research, evaluating sources, and writing annotations in a brief descriptive and critical format. A checklist is included that covers preparing, evaluating and relating sources on various criteria to write a comprehensive annotated bibliography.

1. An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles,
and various relevant information sources. The list can be
alphabetized or categorized. Following each citation is a brief
descriptive or evaluative paragraph - the annotation. The
annotation informs the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and
quality of the sources cited. An annotated bibliography provides
your instructor with the results of your comprehensive library
and database searches. An annotated bibliography
demonstrates that you have applied critical thinking skills to
search for and evaluate information to use in your paper.
Terms
Annotation
An "abstract" such as those you find at the beginning of
research papers and scholarly articles is descriptive; an
"annotation" is descriptive, critical, and evaluative. Annotations
are descriptive and critical; they are your point of view of the
resource chosen, assessed for your ability to write with clarity and appropriateness of expression, and
for your evaluation of the authority and relevance of the work.
Bibliography
A bibliography is a full reference list to all the sources which you used or referred to in preparing for
your paper or assignment. In some citation styles this list is termed “References” or “Works Cited”. The
value of a bibliography is determined by its relevant and reliable content and form: it is also the basis
upon which your paper is substantiated.
Abstracts
Found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles, abstracts are solely descriptive summaries.
Types of Annotations
There are several types of annotations; however, for the purpose of your assignment it is important to
understand the differences between these three:
Informative
presents the original material in an abbreviated form using the same tone of that
material.
Descriptive:
describes the works content
Evaluative:
describes the works content and critically evaluates the material in context of the
research undertaking

2. Suggested Resources
1. Peer-reviewed / scholarly / refereed articles, using RDC’s licensed databases and other
resources at: http://rdc.libguides.com/english. Databases of journal articles are found under
the FIND ARTICLES tab on your subject guide. The most useful for English topics are JSTOR,
Humanities International Complete, Project Muse, and Academic Search Complete. Be sure to
read the abstract or summary of the article as this is very helpful in selecting the most
appropriate and relevant articles to read for your paper.
2. Books, in the library, through WorldCat http://rdc.libguides.com/english under the FIND BOOKS
& DVD tab;
Purpose
The purpose of an annotation is to describe, critically, the cited material, as it pertains to your subject,
arguments, research topic. The annotation provides adequate description of themes and arguments of
the work and a critical evaluation so you and your instructor can establish if the source is credible,
accurate and relevant to the topic.
Annotations are brief and economical expositions often writing in sentence fragments; if
related, fragments are connected with semicolons.
Annotations are typically about 100 to 150 words.
Creating an annotated bibliography for your paper requires you to apply a range of intellectual skills:
succinct writing, critical evaluation, and comprehensive library research.
Your annotation begins with an MLA citation of the work. It will have a similar format to a Works Cited
page, but with three differences:
1. it includes works (references) useful to the reader, but that might not have cited in the
writing of a your paper or article;
2. the references may be organized into categories, which are arranged to guide the user
rather than alphabetically;;
3. it includes a remarks (critical annotation) about the work explaining the worth of the
material (or the shortfalls) within the context of the topic researched.

3. Process
Conduct your research with the guidance and support of your librarian using licensed online databases
and the library catalogue. Keep a record of citations to books, periodicals, and other documents that
may be useful to your topic. Briefly critically assess each article or item then choose those that offer a
range of perspectives on your topic. Take time to critically evaluate each item using specific guidelines.
See:
The University of Toronto Writing Center
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/annotated-bibliography
providing guidance when choosing sources, assessing the argument of the source,
reading strategies, and lists of language to use when discussing arguments
Simon Fraser University Library
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/annotated-bibliography
formatting using MLA style
Concordia University Libraries
http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/annotatedbibliog.php
information to include in your annotation
examples of annotations using MLA style
Uris Libraries, Cornell University
http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm
the process for writing and critically appraising your material
Be sure you look closely at the examples provided at the above online resources. Annotations
immediately follow the bibliographic (citation) information yet please check the MLA style manual to be
sure of the spacing. Remember: be brief and include precise and noteworthy information and write in
an efficient and economical manner

4. Checklist
Preparation  Define and refine the scope of your topic or subject to be researched.
 Examine and read or review the actual text and illustrations of each work. Do not
rely on the opinion through book reviews, third-party abstracts, evaluations in other
publications, etc.
 Choose those items that provide a range of perspectives or arguments in support of
your topic or that challenge the arguments.
Author  Note the author.
 Describe is his/her accreditation, position, education, affiliation, and other
noteworthy background information, etc.
 Evaluate the authority or background of the author.
Purpose  Define the purpose for writing the article or doing the research presented.
Intended  Determine the intended audience.
Audience  Is it intended for the general public, for scholars, policy makers, teachers,
(of the work cited, professionals, practitioners, etc.?
not of your
Annotated
 Is this reflected in the author's style of writing or presentation?
Bibliography)
Author Bias  Establish if the author has a bias
 What are the biases?
Information  Determine if the articles or books are based on personal opinion or experience,
Source interviews, library research, questionnaires, laboratory experiments, standardized
personality tests, etc.
 Evaluate reliability.
 Evaluate the resources cited.
Author  Describe the author's conclusion.
Conclusion  Does the author satisfactorily justify the conclusion from the research or
experience? Why or why not?
Significant  Are there significant attachments or appendices such as charts, maps,
Attachments bibliographies, photographs, documents, tests or questionnaires? If not, should
there be?
Relate to Subject  Explain how this work illuminates the topic you have chosen to research. How is it
and Other Works useful?
 Compare or contrast this work with another (or others) cited.
Adapted from “How to Write An Annotated Bibliography”, Roger Williams University
Libraries. Retrieved from http://library.rwu.edu/HowdoI/annotatedbib.php