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The Annotated Bibliography

The Annotated Bibliography

Similar to a references page, a bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents, both text and electronic. When annotations are added, each of the citations is followed by a summary or evaluation of the source. The annotations in an annotated bibliography may:

Summarize the source by explaining what the main arguments are in the source, what the main points and topics are covered, and by telling what the focus of the work is.

Assess the source. You may find it helpful to state whether the source is useful for your particular research purposes. Additionally, you may wish to compare it with other sources you have found and indicate whether you find the information reliable and objective or biased and produced by someone who does not have adequate credentials.

Reflect on how the source fits into the research you are doing or are planning to do. Consider whether the source can be helpful to you in terms of shaping your argument or in producing information that can change your thinking about the topic itself.

The process used in creating an annotated bibliography is one that requires accurate skimming, succinct explanation, concise analysis of materials, and skill in both library and online research.

Skimming and Scanning

Skimming is useful when you are trying to gain a quick overview of a text by reading selectively. Begin by reading the title and table of contents if there is one. Read the first paragraph thoroughly, and then continue through, reading headers and the first sentences of each paragraph. If a writer uses topic sentences correctly, this will provide you with a clear picture of what the document discusses. Finally, read the concluding paragraphs.

Scanning will be helpful when you know specifically what you want to look for: a name, a concept, or a particular piece of information. In this case, try not to read everything, but to look at the words with relaxed eyes (as if you were trying to see the three-dimensional image in those “magic pictures”). These techniques will help you create your bibliography. When you begin writing your paper, use these to guide you to the texts you need to read thoroughly and understand.

When you are working on the construction of an annotated bibliography, you should:

Locate books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas dealing with your topic.

Create preliminary citations for any source you think you may use.

Briefly examine and review the items you have located and choose those that provide you with a variety of perspectives on the topic.

Determine a source contains sufficient material to warrant further scrutiny for the work using APA style.

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Peruse the text thoughtfully and thoroughly in order to determine what the author has said about your topic. Have you read it carefully enough to summarize and evaluate it?

Write a concise annotation for the work in question. It should summarize the theme and scope of the material, contain evaluation of the text in terms of its validity and the reliability of its author, and have comments relative to how this piece fits with other sources you have found.

While the annotations for each source are written in paragraph form generally, the lengths of the annotations will vary depending on the purpose for which you are creating them. If you are only summarizing, the annotations are generally short, but if you are including extensive analysis, the annotations will be longer and more involved. Even when you are annotating a book, it is best to focus your summarization efforts on the parts of the book you plan to use in your research. Few of us can honestly say an entire volume will be used for our research purposes.

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Annotated Bibliography Entry Examples

Annotated Bibliography Entry Examples

Assume an individual has become interested in finding out more about the topic of stem cell research. Below are examples of annotated bibliography listings this person might make. In most bibliographies, the material is listed in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name. For our purposes, however, the annotations are presented relative to the type of material utilized.

Example Citation of a Book by a Single Author

Kondracke, M. (2001). Saving Milly: Love, politics, and Parkinson’s disease. New York, NY: Public Affairs.

Morton Kondracke, currently a political analyst for Fox News, chronicles the 13-year ordeal he, his wife Milly, and his family have endured as Milly has fought against the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. Although known primarily for his astute political analysis, Kondracke writes about Parkinson’s and the desperate efforts being made by activists to have more of the medical research funding funneled into the discovery of cures for Parkinson’s with the authority of someone who has been there and fought the fight. One of the possibilities being held out to sufferers is stem cell research, and this is detailed within the book. Although this work is not primarily about stem cell research, it has sections that would offer material that I would find very useful in my research as it points out the pros and cons of such research from the point of view of Kondracke, his wife, and other patients such as Michael J. Fox.

Example Citation of a Magazine Article by a Single Author

Hickey, J. G. (2001, April). Moral questions dog stem-cell research. Insight on the News. 21.

Some people feel that stem cell research is critical to developing treatments for Alzheimer’s and other diseases, while other individuals see such research as morally and ethically wrong. In some research communities, it is felt that such debate is becoming a moot point as these scientists are wondering whether the use of human embryos for such research is really necessary. As the fight continues for research dollars to find cures for such diseases as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the scientists who offer hope that stem-cell research can be conducted without utilizing embryonic cells are seen as being on the moral high ground. This article takes an interesting view of stem-cell research and makes the point that stem-cells can come from a number of places. Because of this view, I feel that this would be a worthwhile addition to my sources. It certainly offers food for thought.

Example Citation of an Online Article from a Government Agency

United States National Institute of Health. (2000). NIH publishes final guidelines for stem cell research. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/augwooo /od-23.html.

In this news release, the NIH offers the final governmental guidelines for stem cell research involving human pluripotent stem cells. These guidelines are supposed to ensure that such research is done in an ethical and legal manner. Because the NIH believes that such research is promising for the treatment and

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cure of many diseases and injuries, they are offering the guidelines to those who wish to engage in research and have federal funding to conduct it. Because this comes from the NIH, the information should be credible. This source offers very little really salient information regarding the debatable issues of stem-cell research. It does, however, list some specific goals for such research in terms of cures and treatments. This might prove helpful in my research.

Before you start on your own annotated bibliography work, be sure to check out the information in your textbooks.

Annotated Bibliography Entry Examples

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