Q. How do I write an annotated bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources. Unlike the standard bibliography, an annotated bibliography contains a paragraph-length annotation after each of the sources. The information included in the annotation will depend on what type of annotated bibliography you are writing: descriptive or critical. Depending on the type of bibliography, your annotation might include:

• The purpose of the work
• A summary of its content
• The audience for the work
• The work's relevance to your topic
• Any unique features of the material
• Any strengths, weaknesses, or biases in the material

For more information about the types of annotated bibliographies and examples of annotations, please visit the library's annotated bibliography tutorial. You can also see our guides on how to write annotated bibliographies in APA and in MLA.