Annotated Bibliography--Assignment, Criteria, and Links to Examples

English 1020 sec 15, Spring 2014, O'Donnell, ETSU

last update: February 11, 2014

Assignment

Find at least 10 good sources, related to your research topic, and present those in a clear, easy-to-read annotated bibliography.

- Write a clear, precise title, describing this bibliography.

- For each source, include a full, formal citation, written in a consistent style (for example, MLA or APA).

- For each source, also include an interesting, readable, and informative annotation.

- At the beginning of the bibliography, include a block of text entitled "why this topic is interesting and important," in which you describe, in a few sentences, why the topic is significant.

- At the beginning of the bibliography, also include a block of text entitled "about the author of this bibiliography," in which you describe, in a few sentences, 1) who you are, 2) why you are interested in your topic, and 3) what your authority is, in relation to that topic.

Evaluation Criteria

I will grade the final annotated bibliography according to the following criteria:

1. Quality of sources.

A good bibliography will include good, high quality sources. A source is "good" when it is notable, important, cited and discussed by other people. Also, a "good" source will be well-written--that is, written in clear, engaging, enjoyable prose.

2. Range and variety of sources.

A good bibligraphy will include many types of sources. Your bib should include most if not all of the following types of sources:

A.) a book--or a chapter in a book

B.) an article from a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal

C.) a feature article from a newspaper, monthly magazine, or other periodical written for a broad audience

D.) an article from a reference work--encylopedia, specialized dictionary, etc.

E.) a corporate, government, or nonprofit website

F.) a documentary film and/ or video

3. Quality of annotations

A.) content

A good annotation says in a nutshell what the source is about, what makes the source good, why it's in your bib, and how it illuminates your research topic. Also, an annotation also often explains who the authors are, and explains how you found the source, and how other people have reacted to the source.

B.) writing quality

A good annotation is enjoyable to read. I encourage you to write readable, engaging, first-person annotations. Good annotations are informative without being wordy.

Links to Online Instructions and Examples

- "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography." Cornell University Library, Ithaca, New York. Last updated September 5, 2013. guides.library.cornell.edu/annotatedbibliography
- "Writing an Annotated Bibliography." Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. lib.skidmore.edu/library/index.php/li371-annotated-bib
- "Writing an Annotated Bibliography." A handout adapted from Writing Across the Curriculum, by Sandra Nagy, and posted at the Writing Center website at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois. write.siu.edu/Handouts/Writing%20an%20Annotated%20Bibliography.pdf
- "Annotated Bibliography Samples." Online Writing Lab at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/