Annotated Bibliographies  Tags: annotated_bibliography  

What is an annotated bibliography

It's an organized list of cited references that includes a brief description & evaluation of each source. The length requires that you use pithy description and succinct analysis.

Why an annotated bibliography?

• As a literature review on a particular topic
• Demonstrating to the reader if a source should be considered for her/his research
• To illustrate the quality of your research
• Providing examples of the types of sources available
• Giving your research historical perspective or relevance
• Exploring the parameters of the subject
• Preparing for future research

What might you address in an annotated bibliography?

• Audience – Who is the author addressing? Who should be reading this?
• Authority – What are the writer’s credentials? Why should we believe what he has to say?
• Bias – Do the authors / publishers have a particular agenda they are trying to promote?
• Content – Is what’s included appropriate? Is it worth reading?
• Coverage – Is the topic explored thoroughly? Does the scope of the material match the author’s intentions? Is there a better work on this topic?
• Currency – Is this up-to-date? Is timeliness important for this particular topic?
• Organization – Does the arrangement of the content augment the argument?
• Purpose – What does the author intend to convey? Does the author achieve this?
• Relevance – Does this contribute significantly to research in this field?
• Quality – Is this an exemplary demonstration of scholarship?
• Special Features – Does this work include any attributes that benefit the reader and make it particularly useful? (illustrations, index, footnotes, recommended readings)
• Writing Style – How does the manner in which the material is presented contribute to the overall purpose?