An annotated bibliography is a document that provides a summary and evaluation of the sources you find.

Keep in mind that an abstract is not an annotation. An abstract is a summary of the source.

Why write an annotated bibliography?

• Keeps track of source materials consulted
• Lets the reader know what you have found
• Demonstrates your ability to critically evaluate sources within the context of a topic

An Annotated Bibliography consists of these parts:

• Complete citation
• Summary
  • Briefly summarize the purpose and scope of the source in a few sentences. What are the main arguments? Don't just read for content! Review not just what scholars are saying, but how are they saying it. How have other scholars organized their ideas? What methods or theories have been used to understand your topic? 
• Evaluation
  • ​Evaluate the overall quality of the source. What is its contribution to understanding the research problem? How does it relate to other sources in your bibliography? 
• Reflection
  • ​Assess the usefulness of the source for your own research project. Did it provide you with new insights about your topic?

Write the annotation in complete sentences. The average length of an annotation is about 100-150 words.