LibAnswers

You can find a full explanation on the Annotated Bibliography tab of the English Composition and Literature Research Guide.

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources (like a reference list). It differs from a straightforward bibliography in that each reference is followed by a paragraph length annotation, usually 100–200 words in length. Depending on the assignment, an annotated bibliography might have different purposes:

• Provide a literature review on a particular subject
• Help to formulate a thesis on a subject
• Demonstrate the research you have performed on a particular subject
• Provide examples of major sources of information available on a topic
• Describe items that other researchers may find of interest on a topic

Types of annotated bibliographies
There are two major types of annotated bibliographies:

1. Descriptive or informative - annotated bibliography describes or summarizes a source as does an abstract, it describes why the source is useful for researching a particular topic or question, its distinctive features. In addition, it describes the author's main arguments and conclusions without evaluating what the author says or concludes.
2. Analytical or critical - not only summarizes the material, it analyzes what is being said. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of what is presented as well as describing the applicability of the author's conclusions to the research being conducted.

For most of your annotated bibliographies, however, you will be writing analytical or critical annotations.

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography

• Write a reference list entry for each source in alphabetical order and in the format required.
• Write the annotation paragraph(s)under each source as a new paragraph:
  • The annotation is a short summary of the article in your own words. Avoid quoting and do not copy the abstract of the article.
  • You may be asked to include information beyond a summary of the source, such as a short discussion of how the source supports your paper’s topic or your argument.
• Indent the entire annotation (rather than just the first line)in the same way you indent a block quotation.
• If your annotation includes multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of each paragraph after the first.

Additional Resources

• New 9th ed. Example Annotated Bibliography (Lanier Tech)

  MLA formatted annotated bibliography page, double spaced, 12 pt. font with 1" margins. Then append an annotation to the end of the entry, indented another 1" from the entry (to distinguish it from the 1/2" hanging indent of entries composed of more than one line).

• Columbia College Vancouver: MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Annotated Bibliography

• Ms. Peer Editor: How to Write an Annotated Bibliography in MLA Format

• Purdue Owl: Annotated Bibliography Samples

Need to find sources to fill your Annotated Bibliography? Check out these databases for information related to your paper:

Literary Criticism
Start your search for sources by going to the Literary Criticism tab on the English Composition and Literature Research Guide. Search Bloom's first and work your way down through all five of the databases.

• Bloom's Literary Reference Online  Blooms Literature offers a comprehensive resource for the study of literature. Edited and curated by Yale University professor Harold Bloom, one of the worlds leading literary scholars, this database includes thousands of critical essays; author biographies, interviews, and profiles; character analyses; the full content of hundreds of books from our extensive reference collection and more than 1,000 classic works of literature; thousands of questions for discussion and writing; thousands of full-length poems; essays providing guidance on writing papers; full-length videos of classic stage performances and film adaptations of literary works; and a Shakespeare Center housing in one convenient location the databases treasure trove of content on all things Shakespeare.
• Literary Reference Center  Literary Reference Center includes thousands of plot summaries, synopses, and work overviews; articles of literary criticism; author biographies; full text of over 430 literary journals; book reviews; classic and contemporary poems and short stories; full text of over 7,000 classic novels; author interviews; and images of key literary figures.
• Literature Online  Literature Online is a full-text library of over 330,000 works of British and American poetry, drama and prose. In addition to literary texts, LION includes biographical sketches of major writers, selected author bibliographies, and critical and reference works.
• Literature Resource Center  Literature Resource Center provides biographies on thousands of authors, as well as literary criticism, historical context, and social implications of literature.
• Salem Literature  Salem Literature is a robust online database providing access to the Critical Insights series. Critical Insights is a comprehensive series that distills the best of both classic and current literary criticism of the world's most-studied literature. Each volume in the series focuses on an individual author's entire body of work or on a single work of literature.

Most of the databases have author searches and works searches. Sometimes an author's lesser-known work may not have a criticism written about it. You will need to then use your critical thinking skills to read some of their other works and those criticisms and then draw your own conclusions about the work you have chosen. Look at other authors who wrote during the same time period as your chosen author.  What was going on in the world during the author's life to influence their writing? These can help with your analysis.

Argumentative Writing

• Issues & Controversies  Issues & Controversies helps student researchers understand today's crucial issues by exploring hundreds of hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Presented in a balanced, pro/con format, all articles provide essential context, supported by statistics, timelines, and primary sources. Many issues feature original videos and educator resources as well as live debates, newspaper editorials, audio content, and breaking news. Issues & Controversies presents both sides of an issue clearly and without bias to inspire thought-provoking debates and enhance research writing skills
• CQ Researcher  The CQ Researcher is a biweekly publication that covers the most current and controversial issues of the day with complete summaries, insight into all sides of the issues, bibliographies and more.
• Points of View Reference Center  Points of View Reference Center contains resources that present multiple sides of an issue. This database provides content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.

General Databases

• Academic Search Complete  This scholarly collection, considered a multidisciplinary database, offers full-text coverage of information in many areas of academic study.
• Research Library   Research Library provides one-stop access to a wide range of popular academic subjects and includes full-text access for thousands of titles, including scholarly journals, trade publications, magazines, and newspapers.

A-Z Database List
Alphabetical list of Lanier Technical College Library's databases