ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION:
An annotated bibliography is a list of cited sources about a particular topic, in
which each citation is followed by a brief annotation, or discussion of the source. The
annotation usually consists of just one paragraph, but your instructor may require more. An
annotated bibliography is useful for documenting your research in a specific area, exploring
varying viewpoints, and summarizing main points from different sources. Format
requirements of an annotated bibliography vary greatly from one documentation style to
another; please refer to a style manual for specific format requirements (ex: MLA, APA,
CBE, Chicago, etc.). There are two parts to every entry in an annotated bibliography: the
citation and the annotation.
The Citation:
The citation includes the bibliographic information of the source. The documentation style
required for this information depends upon your particular academic field and will usually
be assigned by your professor (some common styles include MLA, APA, CBE, and
Chicago). Follow the instructions for the assignment, and the guidelines in the appropriate
documentation handbook. Citations are organized alphabetically.
DEFINITION OF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each
citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative
paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the
relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited
The Annotation:
The annotation is a brief paragraph following the citation.
Purpose of the Annotation:
The annotation of a source can serve several different purposes; your professor may require
your annotations to do some of the following:
 condense the content of the source (write a brief summary of the information
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

 evaluate the credibility of the source (analyze for authority, accuracy, currency,
objectivity)
 assess the usefulness or relevant application of the source
 discuss the writer’s background (examine expertise or layman knowledge ability)
 analyze the intended audience (education, age, experience, needs, bias)
 describe your reaction (credible source? value of source? analytical/emotional reaction?
The length of an annotation depends upon the assignment. Shorter annotations will
most likely cover only main points and themes; longer annotations may require a more in-
depth description, discussion, or evaluation of the source. Consult the specific requirements
for your assignment as your professor may dictate a word count or length for each
annotation.

TYPES OF ANNOTATIONS: Annotations may be written with different goals in

mind.

Indicative annotations

This type of annotation defines the scope of the source, lists the topics and explains what the
source is about. In this type of entry, there is no attempt to give actual data such as
hypothesis, proofs, author etc.

Informative annotations

This type of annotation is a summary of the source. An informative annotation should

include the thesis of the work, arguments or hypothesis, proofs and a conclusion.

Evaluative annotations

This type of annotation assesses the source's strengths and weaknesses, in terms of
usefulness and quality.
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Combination annotations

Most annotated bibliographies contain combination annotations. This type of annotation will
summarize or describe the topic, and then evaluate the source's usefulness and a summary.

PURPOSE OF AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

An annotated bibliography may serve a number of purposes, including but not limited
to:
 A review of the literature on a particular subject
 Illustrate the quality of research that you have done
 Provide examples of the types of sources available
 Describe other items on a topic that may be of interest to the reader
 Explore the subject for further research
 The annotated bibliography may be selective or comprehensive in its coverage.
 A selective annotated bibliography includes just those items that are best for the topic
while an exhaustive annotated bibliography attempts to identify all that is available on a
subject.
ORGANIZATION OF AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 The organization of the annotated bibliography, if not prescribed by faculty instructions,

may be one of various methods, including but not limited to:
 Alphabetical
 Chronological: either by date of publication or by period of subject matter (century, era,
decade, event, year)
 By subtopic
 By format (articles, books, government documents, media, web pages, etc.)
 By language
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

ELEMENTS OF AN ANNOTATION 

Information found in an annotation may include:

1. Qualifications of author(s);"Based on 20 years of study, William A. Smith, Professor of

English at XYZ University...";
2. Purpose/scope:"...sets out to place John Turner in eighteenth century England and show
the development of his philosophy in relation to contemporary social mores";
3. Audience and level of reading difficulty:"Smith addresses himself to the scholar, albeit
the concluding chapters on capital punishment will be clear to any informed layman";
4. Bias or standpoint of author :"Turner gears his study more to the romantic aspects of the
age than the scientific and rational developments";
5. Relationship to other works in the field:"Here Turner departs drastically from A. F.
Johnson (Two will not, New York, Riposte Press, 1964) who not only has developed the
rational themes of the eighteenth century but is convinced the romantic elements at best are
only a skein through the major prose and poetry";
6. Findings, results, and conclusions (if available); and
7. Format/special features(e.g., bibliography, glossary, index, survey instruments, testing
devices, etc.).

STRUCTURE OF AN ANNOTATION:

 Length: Generally, annotations constitute one paragraph and are approximately 100 -150
words long, with a goal of concise and explicative annotations
 Person: The third person is the standard, though first person may be appropriate for
certain types of annotated bibliographies.
 Language and Vocabulary: Use the vocabulary of the author, as much as possible, to
convey the ideas and conclusions of the author. If you use a quotation excerpted from the
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

work set it within quotation marks. Vary your sentence structure and try to avoid repetivitive
vacuuous phrases in your annotations, such as, "The author states," "This article concerns,"
or "The purpose of this report is," as well as sentences starting with "It was suggested that,"
"It was found that," and "It was reported that."
 Format - Sentences: Whole sentences are preferable, but single descriptive words, and
simple phrases or lists may be acceptable.
 Format - Paragraphs: Annotations should be one paragraph long. The paragraph should
contain a statement of the work's major thesis, from which the rest of the sentences can
develop.

Citation Format  

The bibliography portion of the annotated bibliography usually follows one of the
standard citation formats, APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. Citation format information is available
from the library's Cite a Source web page. The most complete citation resources remain in
print; copies of the APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, ASA and ACA style guides are
available at the reference desk.

Annotated Bibliography Format Styles

1.Summary Format Styles

The basic format of an annotated bibliography is the same as a non-annotated

bibliography entry. The difference is that the publication information about the source
material is followed with the annotation that reviews and evaluates the material.

Here are the two basic format styles:

 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2.APA (American Psychological Association) Style

StyleBaker, T. (1995). Gun control and You.  Stevenson Learning Law Review, 45 (2), 180-
193. The author researches several federal and state firearms regulations and their effect on
the everyday citizen. By testing his hypothesis that firearms regulations have an inherent
effect on everyday citizens, findings yield in support of the hypothesis. In contrast, Baker
cited in an earlier study the complete opposite findings. 

3.MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

Style Johnson, Jaime. "Gun Control: Your Only Means of Defense.” Researcher's Special
Journal  (1999): 254-325. Print. The author researches several federal and state firearms
regulations and their effect on the everyday citizen. By testing his hypothesis that firearms
regulations have an inherent effect on everyday citizens, findings yield in support of the
hypothesis. In contrast, Baker cited in an earlier study the complete opposite.

4. Full 3-Component Format Style

Crohn’s and Colitis - An Annotated Bibliography

Crohn’s and Colitis Drug Effective in Trials. (2013). Medical News Today. Retrieved from:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265128.php 

Published on the website Medical News Today, this article discusses the research findings of
two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Vedoluzimab is a drug being
tested to help Crohn’s and Colitis patients deal with the debilitating effects of these diseases.
The article briefly outlines the research suggesting effectiveness of the drug. 

MediLexicon International, the publisher of the article, is a U.K. based health care internet
publishing company that is dedicated to providing top notch unbiased content. Publishing
since 2003, this reputable company’s articles are reliable for use for research support. 
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Glover, Sonia B. Coping WithCrohn’s, The Pain and The Laughter. Newfoundland and
Labrador: Boulder Publications. 2007. Print
This insightful account of one woman’s struggles with her symptoms and diagnosis of
Crohn’s provides valuable personal information for those struggling with Crohn’s. 

 Published by Boulder Publications, a self-proclaimed “publisher of high quality books,” this

book is a useful tool to understand Crohn’s disease. It is a reliable resource for anecdotal
information about Crohn’s disease
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Examples of an Annotated Bibliography Entry  

Example 1:

D.C.Dutta MBBS, DGO, MO(CAL). Impressionism: Professior and Head,Department of

Obstetrics and Gynecology . Kolkata, India 2004.In this publication D.C.Dutta’s Textbook

of Obstetric continues to provide basic knowledge to medical student’s doctors and

midwives for improved patient care. It is a great pleasure to see this book come out with

international quality in its seven edition as there an overwhelming demand for the new

thoroughly revised edition of the book in many parts of the world. Dutta’s book committed

to be revised and updated continually. Maximum attention has been paid to update the “core

curricula” that impact fundamental knowledge, learning and skill. In view of expanding

knowledge of molecular biology, genetics, imaging and other diagnostic modalities, major

changes have been incorporated in all the chapters of the current edition. New management

option are also discussed. Object of the text is to prove a current cutting edge information

which is again easy to read, and above all will be based on evidence. Recent research has

necessitated major changes in all the chapter in the text. Few chapter have been exhaustively

updated while some have been completely rewritten. Operative Obstetrics has been

thoroughly updated and amply illustrated fir easy learning of common obstetric operation
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

skills. The incorporated CD will be of immense help of this purpose. This chapter has been

enriched with numerous high quality photographs covering instruments, specimens, drugs

and plates of imaging studies. There are several hundreds of model questions with answers

and explanations. This chapter is to help the students while preparing for the clinical and

viva voce part of the examination. In fact the total information gives in chapter 41, amounts

to a “mini text book-cum-colour atlas” on obstetrics.

 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Example 3:

A comprehensive Textbook of Midwifery and Gynecological Nursing ", 3rd edition,

Annamma Jacob , 2012, Jaypee brothers Medical publishers(P) Ltd., New Delhi.
Annamma Jacob completed her Bachelor Degree in Nursing in 1966 , Christian Medical
College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India. She has held clinical, educative, and administrative
positions in several institutions in India, Kuwait, and California. She has over 25 years of
experience in maternal newborn nursing. Other books authored by her Clinical Nursing
Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, Manual of Midwifery, Maternal and Neonatal
Nursing Care Plans , and Midwifery Casebooks: A practical Record of Maternal & Newborn
for BSc Nursing Students. The author has identified that addition of more information in
certain topics and more chapters on Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing would further
assist nursing students to expand their knowledge of maternal -newborn nursing and the
textbook more student and the teacher friendly. This book offers a unique opportunity to
midwifery students as well as teachers , to assimilate an overgrowing body of scientific
knowledge and to help the technical and analytical skills necessary to apply the same into
practice and strives to provide the students with various aspects of midwifery to become
competent and caring midwives. It includes the most accurate and clinically relevant
information available, in a clearly written , visually appealing and logical format. The
current concept on community midwifery has been included, which stresses on Preventive
Obstetrics and Domiciliary Care in Maternity nursing. A detailed discussion on Primary
health care, the organization of MCH programs and the current Evolution of RCH programs
is included.This book includes 12 sections and 71 chapters in 806 pages with an Appendix
and Exhaustive Glossary at the end. Each chapter is ending with a list of bibliography which
 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

are useful to find out the detailed information. In addition , a number of diagrams , tables
and illustrations and nursing processes have been presented, where ever necessary .This
book is in simple language and organized into 12 logical sequence including all the units
outlined in the syllabus prescribed by the INC for midwifery course. Each chapter begins
with a list of learning objectives. These tells the reader specifically what she or he should
know after reading the chapter. As the concept of nursing process has been incorporated into
midwifery education, a chapter on nursing process is included to familiarize midwifery
students to the appropriateness of using the problem -oriented approach with their maternity
and newborn clients. With a few selected topics , the nursing processes that can be carried
out are included which are hoped to serve as guidelines. Pertinent information from other
health sciences is included throughout the book , particularly as it relates to the childbearing
and child rearing periods in the life of the family and from preconception through the first
six weeks postpartum. This chapter is to help the students while preparing for the clinical
and viva voce part of the examination.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY