THIS IS YOUR TURN TO WRITE ANNOTATED BIBLOGRAPHY

One of the first things we do in a research-based course is an Annotated Bibliography. It may look like a list of words at first glance, but it is much more important than it seems. A well-written annotated bibliography reflects the way you think critically, the way you act upon a literature search and engage with scholarly sources. If this is done correctly, then it clears your path for more effective stronger research papers and high grades. This blog will guide you step by step with examples on how to write an annotated bibliography. What is critical annotation?, Tips to write efficiently and mistakes to avoid and the difference between summary and analysis. 

The detailed examples that will be used in this blog will help you to create practised and meaningful annotations and make things crystal clear for you. So, we are going to start with an annotated bibliography.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Annotated Bibliography is list of references, journals, articles, books or other sources. Each reference is followed by annotation, which is a small paragraph of at least 100-150 words. This paragraph summarises or evaluates the source. But the main thing about an annotated paragraph is that it is about your ‘thinking’. It reveals your skills like:

• Identifying relevant research
• To be aware of the main argument of a source
• Evaluate the source’s weaknesses and strengths 

Now that we know about an Annotated Bibliography, we will discuss its purpose.

PURPOSE OF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Let’s say we are working on a building. If we work harder on the base of the building, the rest of the work, that is, constructing the structure of the building, will be easy because the base is strong. Similar goes with an annotated bibliography because this helps you with basic things like avoiding irrelevant sources, organising your thoughts and critically evaluating sources’ credibility.

CRITICAL ANNOTATION 

Critical annotation is not about summarising, but it is about analysing the source in depth. It will tell you about credibility, quality and its relevance to your research topic. It is about how you will present your argument. So when we are asked to write an annotated bibliography with critical annotations following are some steps to keep in mind while writing.

• Summarizing
• Analyzing 
• Evaluating 

The main idea of the source is summarising. The quality of the argument is analysed. The source’s relevance to your research is the last one which is being evaluated. A critical annotation is ‘thinking with the text’ not about the text. For instance, this book is well statistically provided by lacks qualitative depth.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

Now we will discuss several things that come together to make a difference between summary and analysis. So, let’s get started.

Summary tells what the source says, while Analysis tells how well it says. Summary focuses on content, while on the other hand Analysis focuses on the quality. Summary uses phrases like “this article discusses”. Unlike a summary, an analysis uses phrases like “the author failed to”.

But what you need to do is to focus on the combination of analysis and summary in your annotations. The mixing up of both, summary and analysis will be much more useful and beneficial for your annotation. 

HOW TO WRITE AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

After discussing the basic concepts, now we are going to go through the process of how to write an annotated bibliography. For this, the first step is “conducting a literature search” in which you will begin with academic using tools like Google Scholar. Step 2 is “citation” in which you will write citation according to the required format like APA, MLA etc. Then the step 3 is “write the annotation” in which you will summarise, analyze and evaluate.

 EXAMPLE: SOCIAL MEDIA AND TEENS

This book explores the wide range of social media effects of teenagers’ minds. The author bases his arguments on a wide range of studies that are both statistical and case studies. The book is written by a licensed clinical psychologist, which gives this extra credibility. It is mainly about US teens and might not be applicable to all parts of the world. This source is highly relevant to my study of how online behaviour is affecting the behavior of teens.

ANNOTATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SOURCE TYPES

Academic articles: Focus on the methodology and findings

Books: Mention the author’s background and note if it covers broadly or focuses narrowly.

Websites: Verify author qualifications. Check for the publication date. Try to avoid blogs and content that are personal and not reviewed.

AVOID THESE MISTAKES

• Do not only summarise but also analyse and evaluate.
• Do not use unreliable sources; but use academic sources.
• Do not be too vague. Be specific about what the source is trying to tell and why it is important.
• Do not forget relevance. Try to relate the source and your research topic. 

BONUS TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Now we will go through some final tips to make your annotated bibliography strong and well-written. Like, keep the word count in check (100-150). Do not use any slang, use a formal and academic style. Proofread your annotation carefully for any grammar, citation or spelling mistakes. Keep your work saved, it can be used while writing your final paper.

Conclusion

The first annotated bibliography might seem like an unapproachable and intimidating task, but just at first, because once you grasp the purpose of it and follow a clear structure to write it, it will seem much easier than before. And once you start writing, it will be a piece of cake for you. In this blog, we have learned step by step on how to write an annotated bibliography, from basic concepts to examples. Just do not forget to review the example, use it as a model to write in future also. Keep practising, as practice makes it more perfect. In no time, you will be writing sharply and efficiently without any hurdle. Just keep the tips in mind and mistakes to avoid, which will also be helpful in future.

Written by Ansa