How to Prepare an Annotated How to Prepare an Annotated BibliographyBibliography

Ms. GreenMs. Green

WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?BIBLIOGRAPHY?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for books, articles, and documents. for books, articles, and documents.

Each citation is followed by a brief (usually Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. paragraph, the annotation.

The purpose of the annotation is to inform the The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.the sources cited.

ANNOTATIONS VS. ABSTRACTSANNOTATIONS VS. ABSTRACTS

AbstractsAbstracts are the purely descriptive summaries are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. journal articles or in periodical indexes.

AnnotationsAnnotations are descriptive and critical; they are descriptive and critical; they expose the author's point of view, clarity and expose the author's point of view, clarity and appropriateness of expression, and authority.appropriateness of expression, and authority.

THE PROCESSTHE PROCESS

Creating an annotated bibliography calls for Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual the application of a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, and informed library research.and informed library research.

First, locate and record citations to books, First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. useful information and ideas on your topic.

Briefly examine and review the actual items. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that provide a Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.variety of perspectives on your topic.

The Process ContinuedThe Process Continued

Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.style.

Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or more sentences thatmore sentences that

(a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment on the intended audience,(b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have

cited, or cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography (d) explain how this work illuminates your bibliography

topic.topic.

CRITICALLY APPRAISING THE CRITICALLY APPRAISING THE BOOK, ARTICLE, OR BOOK, ARTICLE, OR

DOCUMENTDOCUMENT

For guidance in critically appraising and For guidance in critically appraising and analyzing the sources for your bibliography, analyzing the sources for your bibliography, think about the following questions:think about the following questions:

Questions to Consider ???Questions to Consider ??? What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation? What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or

bibliographies? (respected authors are cited frequently by bibliographies? (respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars)  other scholars) 

When was the source published? When was the source published? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Is this a first edition? Is this a first edition? If the source is published by a university press, it is likely If the source is published by a university press, it is likely

to be scholarly to be scholarly Is this a Is this a popularpopular magazine or magazine or scholarlyscholarly journal? journal? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general

audience? audience?

More Questions…..More Questions….. Is there a bibliography? Is there a bibliography? Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched,

or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line

with other works you have read on the same topic? with other works you have read on the same topic? Does the source Does the source extensivelyextensively or or marginallymarginally cover your topic? cover your topic? Is the material Is the material primaryprimary or or secondarysecondary in nature? in nature? Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, such as Locate critical reviews in a reviewing source, such as Book Book

Review IndexReview Index, , Book Review Digest,Book Review Digest, OR OR Periodical AbstractsPeriodical Abstracts

MLA or APA???MLA or APA???

MLA Citation StyleMLA Citation Style and and APA Citation Style APA Citation Style handbookshandbooks are available at the Oviatt Library are available at the Oviatt Library Reference desk. Style manuals for some other formats Reference desk. Style manuals for some other formats are also kept in the reference collections. Check with are also kept in the reference collections. Check with your instructor to find out which style is preferred for your instructor to find out which style is preferred for your class. Online citation guides for both your class. Online citation guides for both Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) are available on the Library’s web pages under the are available on the Library’s web pages under the “How to Do Library Research Section. “How to Do Library Research Section.

This example uses the MLA formatThis example uses the MLA format for for the journal citation:the journal citation:

Flynn, Richard. “The Kindergarten of New Consciousness Gwendolyn Brooks and the Social Construction of Childhood ” African American Review 34, no. 3 (2000 Fall): 483-99  

Identify the title of the article?Identify the title of the journal where the article appeared?

Same AnnotationSame Annotation

Five or six sentences describing the article: Five or six sentences describing the article:

Information about the author of the article;Information about the author of the article;The point of view of the author/scholar;The point of view of the author/scholar;

School of thought;School of thought;

What kind of article is it…literary criticism, historical What kind of article is it…literary criticism, historical piece, biographical, etc…piece, biographical, etc…

What an annotation should include:What an annotation should include:

Complete bibliographic information. Complete bibliographic information. Some or all of the following: Some or all of the following:

Information to explain the authority and/or qualifications Information to explain the authority and/or qualifications of the author. For example: Dr. William Smith, a history of the author. For example: Dr. William Smith, a history professor at XYZ University, based his book on twenty professor at XYZ University, based his book on twenty years of research. years of research.

Scope and main purpose of the work. Scope and main purpose of the work. Any biases that you detect. Any biases that you detect. Intended audience and level of reading difficulty. Intended audience and level of reading difficulty. The relationship, if any, to other works in the area of study. The relationship, if any, to other works in the area of study. A summary comment, e.g., "A popular account directed at A summary comment, e.g., "A popular account directed at

educated adults." educated adults." The annotation should be about 100 to 200 words. The annotation should be about 100 to 200 words.

Book ExampleBook Example

Goulart, R. (1989). Goulart, R. (1989). The Great Comic Book Artists, The Great Comic Book Artists, Volume 2.Volume 2. New York: St Martin's Press. New York: St Martin's Press.

The alphabetically arranged entries include one page The alphabetically arranged entries include one page each for the artist biography and black-and-white each for the artist biography and black-and-white reprinted art. The subjective choices for inclusion reprinted art. The subjective choices for inclusion reflect a pronounced American, corporate bias. This reflect a pronounced American, corporate bias. This slant and the blurry comic-book reproductions render slant and the blurry comic-book reproductions render the title a cut below Goulart's usual high standards. the title a cut below Goulart's usual high standards.

Another Example…Another Example…

Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). Larkin, C. (Ed.). (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Popular Music. London: Guinness.London: Guinness.

Very comprehensive reference book of 3,296 pages Very comprehensive reference book of 3,296 pages (more than 10,000 entries) encompassing all styles of (more than 10,000 entries) encompassing all styles of popular music, including jazz. Primarily biographical, popular music, including jazz. Primarily biographical, but does contain record label histories. Entries from but does contain record label histories. Entries from 150 to 3,000 words, though some important artists 150 to 3,000 words, though some important artists have longer entries. Most artists from UK and US, have longer entries. Most artists from UK and US, though additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro-pop though additionally many reggae, Latin, and Afro-pop artists from outside these countries. Most entries artists from outside these countries. Most entries include discography. include discography.

Other examplesOther examples

The Library has many annotated The Library has many annotated bibliographies to browse.bibliographies to browse.

Try a search on “annotated bibliography” and Try a search on “annotated bibliography” and you will see many choices.you will see many choices.

Catalog: http://suncat.csun.eduCatalog: http://suncat.csun.edu