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How to write an Annotated Bibliography in MLA & APA

Many students wonder what an annotated bibliography is, and it is not surprising. This task can become a real headache, especially for those who don’t have enough time or desire to process multiple sources. An annotated bibliography is a review of various sources. It can be both a part of a bigger project and a stand-alone assignment. Unlike abstracts, annotations contain critical information on the source, its main ideas, and quality.

If you want to learn more of how to write a perfect work, the list of contents may be more than useful. Your annotation should include:

  • Bibliographic citation. You should write the full title, its authors and publishing data;
  • Information on the author;
  • Main idea of the book/article;
  • Highlighting of the main argument;
  • Data on the target audience;
  • Information on the research methods (if any) and the results;
  • Highlighting of the useful information, like graphs, calculations and so on;
  • Description of the research relevance for your own paper;
  • Weak and strong sides of the source;
  • Your personal opinion about the text.

If you are using a proper example, it can help you to avoid many mistakes and difficulties, and give a chance to provide a high-quality paper. Try to avoid such mistakes like performing the task as if it was abstract. You should make sure that you analyze the source, not only summarize it. You should also spend time on reading it to give a full overview, as your professor will surely ask additional questions on the subject. Remember that your annotation should be short and straight to the point: it is not a literature review even though they are very alike. And don’t forget to follow the rules of the indicated formatting style. This will help you greatly in avoiding common mistakes.

Annotated bibliography example

To begin with, there are several types of annotated bibliography. Descriptive type is just like an abstract: you put book identifications (author, title, etc.) and summarize what it is all about in about 100 words (or whatever limits are set by professors).

Critical or evaluative bibliography means that you put book identifications, a sentence or two of summary and then point out strong and weak aspects of the book, how the author built the argument (use of evidence, theories, reasoning) and how it will be instrumental in your research.

So read the instructions carefully and do the proper job with regard to formatting requirements.

Annotated Bibliography Example MLA

MLA Annotated Bibliography means that you provide book identifications in MLA format, namely, full last and first name of the author(s), book/article title, magazine title (if any), issue/number, publisher and dates of publication. The rest is typical of all writing formats: you make it double-spaced, 12 font, 1-inch margins, pagination in the right upper corner, and hanging indent for every new entry (the first line begins at the margin and the rest of the text is shifted to the right).

Example:
Steward, John. The Stage Fashions: Splendor of the Baroque Theatre. Pearson, 2015.

John Steward draws on a rich variety of primary sources including surviving drawings and actual costumes to bring to life fascinating ‘masks’ created and used for court ballets, garden entertainments and theatrical productions. He traces their development, allegorical meaning and possible references to social and court roles of people who were supposed to wear these ‘masks’. The particular value of the book lies in deciphering the origins of fantastic creations and locating them within the framework of period fashions and views on beauty and appropriateness as such. The book is rich in historical images and modern photos and reproductions, which enables readers to actually see the developments and transformations everyday costumes underwent before making it to the stage.

Annotated Bibliography Example APA

Annotated Bibliography APA does not differ that much from MLA-formatted one. The only difference is in book identification format: you write the full last name and initials of the author’s first name, date, book/article title, magazine title, issue/number, and publisher.

The rest goes the same as in MLA: double spacing, one-inch margins, page numbers in the upper right corner, handing indent for every new entry, and 12 fonts. Just remember that APA has running head, and it should be visible on annotated bibliography pages as well.

Example:
Parkwell, A. (2000). The World of Inigo Jones. Oxford University Press.

Inigo Jones was an outstanding figure of his time that helped England break through its artistic isolation and join the rest of Europe in nurturing and elaborating Renaissance and later Baroque cultural trends. Parkwell focuses on contributions to architecture of England made by Jones and influences that shaped his artistic views, but she devotes little attention to his costume designing talent. Although the book provides plenty of useful information about architectural innovations, it would have highly benefited from including costume sketches and drawings that fully reflect the profound nature of cultural changes that England went through. This one-sidedness skews the understanding of Jones’s prominent figure and talents he possessed.

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Chicago Style Annotated Bibliography Example

Talking about Annotated Bibliography Chicago Style it can be safely mentioned that it looks similar to MLA, except for some punctuation marks in periodicals number and issue. So, you put last and first name of the author in full, then book/article title, magazine title issue/number, publisher and dates of publication.

Do not forget about general format: spacing is double, margins take one inch each, pagination is on top of the page, and hanging indent is made for every new entry.

Example:
Lowell, Jennifer. “Allegory as a Mode of Living.” Studies in Historical Design 36, no.5 (2007): 35-60.

In her article Lowell carefully demonstrates how the art of Baroque and later Rococo was rich in allegories and metaphorical meanings, and how it reflected in forms and elements of artistic works of the period. Lowell analyzes allegorical portraits, monumental painting, tapestries, theatrical costumes and other available pieces of art to highlight how antiquity and fairy tales fused into the unique Baroque style and how mythology and passion for classicism first enriched and later petrified panting as an art form in France. The article will be very useful to art students who plan to explore these periods in their studies and look for guidance on appropriate sources and clues for research.

Annotated bibliography template

Using a sample annotated bibliography, every students gets a chance to avoid common mistakes and shape the annotation according to all the rules and requirements. Luckily, there are not many of them and it is quite easy to provide a proper annotation structure. First, you should provide all the details about the source or the citation, like name of the author, title, publishing house and so on. It should be followed by an annotation (a brief summary) and your personal opinion on the subject. You should analyze the source, providing information on its use for your personal project or for the target audience. This section greatly depends on the demands of your professor.

Annotation is usually arranged alphabetically and should be quite brief (around 100-200 words) if your professor doesn’t have other specific requirements. You should also consult your professor about what topics you should highlight in the annotation based on the aim of the assignment.

Annotated bibliography template will be a vivid example and you will be able to create an outstanding annotation without any mistakes and flaws!

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Annotated bibliography topics

It is not difficult to find annotated bibliography topics to write about. Actually, they are limited only to your imagination and indications of your professor. Here are some topics, which may help you decide what to write about:

  1. Health care reform;
  2. Acid raining;
  3. Genetic engineering;
  4. Animal testing;
  5. Gun control;
  6. Feminism;
  7. Human rights;
  8. Labor rules;
  9. History of rock-n-roll;
  10. Nuclear weapons;
  11. Education;
  12. Extreme sports;
  13. Slavery;
  14. Voting;
  15. Cloning.

By using an annotated bibliography example, you can avoid common mistakes, get additional information on the structure of annotation and find new ideas to write about. It is a great chance for students, who want to write the paper on their own, but don’t know where to start!

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