What is an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of books, articles, and other documents in proper documentation style. Each citation is followed by two brief paragraphs (100-150 words each) that describe and evaluate the item. These two paragraphs comprise the “annotation.” The purpose of the annotation is to detail and critique the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source cited. Annotations are not abstracts. Instead, annotations are both descriptive and critical; they provide a summary while also exposing the  author’s  point-of-view, clarity, and authority.
Purpose: • Gather information and learn about a topic • Identify issues surrounding the topic and what other scholars have said about it • Provide a comprehensive overview of other research on the topic • Formulate a thesis or hypothesis for your own research • Inform  readers  as  to  the  source’s  relevance  in  your  research • Help other scholars search for and critique potential sources for their research
Format: • Cite the source in proper documentation style (i.e., APA, Chicago.) • Write the annotation in paragraph form o Do not include citations or quotations within the annotation o Reference the author (if needed) only by last name in the text of the annotation
Content: • Summarize: Create a short summary of the source that describes the main arguments and topics covered. The length of the annotation will determine how detailed the summary will be, so consider word length as you write.
• Assess: After the summary, you must evaluate the source. To do this, determine the source’s value, credibility, bias or objectivity, and reliability. A credible source will show multiple perspectives on a subject and come from a respected organization or recognized institution.
• Reflect:  Once  you’ve  summarized  and  assessed  the  source,  ask  how  it fits into your research. Decide if the source was helpful by asking how it contributes to your argument. Describe how you can use this source in your research and how it affected your way of thinking about the topic. In some instances, you may be asked to discuss how you will use the source in your paper.
Assessment of the Source: Consider (the most relevant of) the following criteria when evaluating sources.
• Author:  The  author’s  credentials  are  important  to  prove  his  or  her  credibility. Consider the author’s  institutional  affiliation,  educational  background,  past writing, and experience as it relates to research. Consider whether or not the source  is  written  in  the  author’s  area   of expertise.
• Date of Publication: The date of publication is important to show how current the source is. Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as computers and sciences, demand current information.
• Edition or Revision: Many editions or printings may indicate that the work has become a standard source in a given discipline and is therefore more reliable.
• Publisher: If a source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although a reputable publisher does not guarantee quality, it does demonstrate that the publisher may have high regard for the source being published.
• Type of Journal: The distinction between scholarly and popular journals is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas.
• Intended Audience: Consider  the  author’s  intended  audience  and  what role — for example: tone, vocabulary, and complexity–that plays in the presentation of information.
• Objective Reasoning: Verify facts. Valid and well-researched sources have clear factual information; biased sources may use emotion-arousing language.
• Coverage:  Consider  if  the  material  is  thorough  and  consistent  with  what’s  found in other sources on the same topic. Widely divergent ideas or a lack of verifiable facts might indicate a problem with credibility.
• Writing Style: Think about the organization and main points of the source. If a source is not logical or organized, it may not be the most reliable or credible source.
Sample Annotation (APA Style)
Doe, J. (2009). Applications of Realist Political Theory. Journal of Political Theory, 99(12), 304-310.
Doe, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bratislava, argues that despite developments in constructivist international theory, realism is still the best paradigm for understanding international relations (IR). Doe takes five principle assertions from classical realism and modern constructivism, and applies them to three prominent events in recent IR: the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole, the 9/11 attacks, and the war in Iraq. Doe determined that since realism puts greater emphasis specifically on the “given” nature of the world stage, realism is more useful and more correct than constructivism.
While Doe’s analysis is useful, the study does not sufficiently answer why a political theory emphasizing a given nature of international relations is more ideal than a theory that does not emphasize it.  Regardless, the definitions of realism and constructivism, as well as the general principles behind the methodology, are the most useful aspects of this article, even if its execution of the methodology is poor. Doe’s definitions of realism and constructivism will be used.
Sample Annotation (Chicago Manual of Style [Turabian])
Borstelmann, Thomas. The Cold War and the Color Line: American Race Relations in the Global Arena. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001.
Borstelmann, a professor of Modern History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explores the role of race in the domestic and international politics of the American Cold War. He also contextualizes the Civil Rights Movement in the international arena. He argues that the American Civil Rights Movement was tied to the rise of postwar anti- colonialism and the rise of anticommunist culture. Further, Borstelmann contends that the American civil rights movement evolved into an international human rights movement that continues today.
Because Borstelmann focuses his research on American policymakers and civil rights leaders, he is successful at identifying the ways in which Cold War politics served to expose America’s racial injustices. He reveals the dichotomies and conflicts of American domestic and foreign policy with the reality of blacks in America during the time period in question. This source is valuable because it establishes the mounting tension that eventually culminated in the race riots of 1967, which is a major aspect of my own research. However, this is a historical narrative that has little insight into why racial tension continued to increase despite major policy changes.
(modified from: “Annotated Bibliography” [http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/ CLAS/Centers/writing/resources/Documents/Resources/Annotated%20Bibliographies.pdf]
(rev. 1 — 13EW1)