part 2

2. Annotated Bibliography

about the annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography includes the citation information (bibliography) with a short summary and evaluation (annotation). Annotated bibliographies are an important step in researching for a critical paper because they are meant not only to compile information but also to put them into some relationship.

guidelines for the annotated bibliography

They should include at least 10 sources beyond your primary source(s). These sources should be a range of scholarly books and articles and must include recent scholarship (though older pieces are ok as long as they aren’t your only sources). The bibliographic information should be presented in MLA style.

The annotations should include 4-5 sentences. They should not use “I.” A general template would be:

1. A general summary

2. A more detailed summary

3. A focused statement on the information relevant to your paper.

4. A statement about how it fits into the other sources (“good counterpoint,” “offers more detailed information,” “builds on previous scholarship”)

5. A general evaluation of the piece (who would find it useful and for what)

example annotation

Margaret Doody’ True Story of the Novel traces the origins of the novel to ancient Roman and Greek texts [general summary]. Pushing against the connection between realism and the novel, Doody argues that our definition of a novel should be expanded to include a more global understanding of the novel [more detailed summary]. Doody looks at particular themes that this broadened definition of the novel share, including the idea of "Eros" or erotic love [the reason I was looking at the book for my study]. Doody's thematic rendering of the novel combats previous formal discussions of the novel and asks readers to think less about form and more about the questions novels raise about experience [fits into scholarship]. As such, scholars of the novel will find the book an important voice in contemporary discussions of the novel [evaluation].