I have to write an annotated bibliography for a class. What is that?
Answer
We have an excellent LibGuide page dedicated to this topic that we recommend you check out. Especially view the links to various examples.
But, here's a quick definition: An annotated bibliography is a list of citations such as books, articles, and documents (a bibliography) with a brief summary and/or evaluation (annotation) for each citation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. Unlike other types of reviews, annotated bibliographies do not have established standards. Your bibliography will be guided primarily by its purpose and instructor guidelines (for class assignments).
What to Cover in an Annotation
- Main focus, purpose, or claim of the work
- The usefulness of the citation to your research topic or goal
- The reliability, trustworthiness, and quality of the source