A working bibliography is a list of sources that you may potentially use for your project. As you find and begin to evaluate research sources—articles, books, Web sites, and so on—you should record source information for every source you think you might use. (Relevant information includes everything you need to find the source again and cite it correctly; the information you will need varies based on the type of source, whether you found it in a library or not, and whether you consulted it in print or online.) The emphasis here is on working because the list will probably include materials that end up not being useful. For this reason, you don’t absolutely need to put all entries into the documentation style you will use (see Chapters 49–55). If you do follow the required documentation style, however, that part of your work will be done when you prepare the final draft.
The following chart will help you keep track of the sorts of information you should try to find:
| Type of Source | Information to Collect (if applicable) |
|---|---|
| Print book | Library call number, author(s) or editor(s), title and subtitle, place of publication, publisher, year of publication, any other information (translator, edition, volume) |
| Part of a book | Call number, author(s) of part, title of part, author(s) or editor(s) of book, title of book, place of publication, publisher, year of publication, inclusive page numbers for part |
| Print periodical article | Call number of periodical, author(s) of article, title of article, name of periodical, volume number, issue number, date of issue, inclusive page numbers for article |
| Electronic source | Author(s), title of document, title of site, editor(s) of site, sponsor of site, publication information for print version of source, name of database or online service, date of electronic publication or last update, date you accessed the source, URL |
For other kinds of sources (films, recordings, visuals), you should also list the information required by the documentation style you are using (see Chapters 49–55), and note where you found the information.
Annotated bibliography
You might wish to annotate your working bibliography to include your own description and comments as well as publishing information (whether or not annotations are required) because annotating can help you understand and remember what the source says. If your instructor requires an annotated bibliography, be sure to ask for the specific guidelines you are to follow in creating the bibliography.
Annotations can sometimes be very detailed and may include summaries of the main points in a source and evaluations of the source’s usefulness. However, most annotations students do on their own include fairly brief descriptions and comments.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ENTRY
Gere, Anne Ruggles. “Kitchen Tables and Rented Rooms: The Extracurriculum of Composition.” Literacy: A Critical Sourcebook. Ed. Ellen Cushman, Eugene R. Kintgen, Barry M. Kroll, and Mike Rose. Boston: Bedford, 2001. 275–89. Print. This history of writing instruction argues that people teach writing and learn to write—and always have—more often in informal places like kitchens than in traditional writing classrooms. Gere presents numerous examples and comments on their importance to the study of writing today.
TALKING THE TALK
“What’s wrong with looking for sources that back up what I want to say?” When you start researching a topic, keep an open mind: investigate every important source, even if you think you won’t agree with it. If all your sources take the same position you take, you may be doing some pretty selective searching—and you may be missing a big part of the picture. Who knows? You may change your position after learning more about the topic. Even if you don’t, ignoring counterarguments and other points of view harms your credibility, suggesting that you haven’t done your homework.