Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

This assignment is designed to help you evaluate sources of information and prepare yourself for further research in the filed.  An annotated bibliography includes all of the citation information needed to find a source and a paragraph describing the source.

1. Find a minimum of six sources on your topic – these should be your best sources so that means you will likely have reviewed at least twice this many. You may include one cookbook as a nonacademic source.

2. For the four sources – Only 2 can be web sites, the other 2 should be scholarly peer-reviewed articles or books.

3. ONLY use Chicago citation formatting and use it consistently in the assignment

4. Look for reliable, valid sources that discuss research and use academic language

5. As you write your annotated paragraph include both (a) a summary of the source AND (b) an evaluation of the validity of the source and its usefulness.  Paragraphs should be in full sentences 100-200 words long.  Length of the entry is often linked with the length of the source.

a. Summarize the content of the source – be descriptive and specific

b. Evaluate the accuracy and validity of the source

c. Describe the usefulness of the source

6. The format should list the citation, then the appropriate paragraph annotation followed by the next citation and annotation.  All entries should be typed and double spaced.

Brief Example:

Castro, P., Huber, M.E. 2005. Marine biology. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill. 451p.

This college-level classroom text provides an overview of oceanography, marine organisms, marine ecology, and human relationships with the ocean.  Microbes are described in detail in one chapter but are again discussed in the context of different marine ecosystems. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are detailed with descriptions of their varied metabolic reactions. Relationships of microbes to other organisms through symbiosis are highlighted as well as concerns of humans through plankton and microbial blooms.  The text also emphasizes how understudied marine microbes are due to research interests and the difficult of studying fragile organisms at sea. As a recent publication by qualified marine researchers and teachers, Castro and Huber, with extensive academic review, the information is current and valid. The source provides an excellent overview for the advanced beginner including glossary and appendices, but requires knowledge of basic biology and chemistry.

Identifying valid sources:

• Look for the author’s credentials.  Are they a person who has a documented knowledge of what they’re researching? Who is paying them to write this?

• When was the source created?  Could research since the time of publishing have changed the information included in your source?  If so, look for more recent works that give you the same (or different) information.

• What type of source is this – peer-edited journal, website, book? 

• The depth and level of detail offered in the source.  It should be appropriate to your level of understanding but use relevant vocabulary and cite research to support its information.