Writing an annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources (for example, journal articles or book chapters) on a topic. Each entry has a reference followed by a brief commentary on the source, known as an annotation. There are two main ways to organise your sources:

1. alphabetically, as in a reference list
2. by importance, with key texts or dominant perspectives in the field first.

The specific elements that you need to incorporate, as well as the structures required, vary between units. This includes the number and type of sources, the referencing styles, as well as what you need to discuss in the annotation. In addition to a descriptive summary, the annotation requires critical reading, which means you analyse and evaluate the text:

• to make an informed judgement about the usefulness of the source content to your topic,
• to identify the contribution it makes and
• to describe its strengths and limitations.

An annotated bibliography is sometimes given as an assessment task at the beginning of a research project, or, as an assessment task in the lead up to an essay, to encourage you to survey and reflect on what has already been discovered about your topic. However, it might also be given as a stand-alone assignment to develop your research and critical thinking skills. It is important that you carefully check the specific requirements of your task so that you understand exactly what is required.

The purpose of an annotated bibliography

The purpose is to:

• learn about a particular topic through critically reviewing the literature
• provide an overview of the main issues, arguments and research within a particular area
• identify variations in interpretation, competing theoretical perspectives, and critiques of dominant views on a given topic
• identify connections between sources
• encourage deeper engagement with individual sources in order to develop your analytical and critical reading skills.

Structuring an annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography has two parts: a reference (some faculties call this a citation) and an annotation. What goes into each part varies between disciplines, so check your assignment instructions or ask your lecturer what is expected.

Writing the reference

The reference gives the details of your source in the referencing style your unit requires (for example, APA 7 or MHRA). References are usually arranged alphabetically by author surname, as in a reference list. Some tasks instead ask you to order sources from most to least relevant to your topic.

Here is the same source referenced in two styles:

Writing the annotation

The annotation may include one or more of the following components:

• summary or description of the source
• evaluation and analysis of the source
• reflection on its usefulness to your research

The following pages outline in detail how to write each of these parts of your annotated bibliography.

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