You will grasp the value of annotated bibliographies the moment you find a trustworthy one covering a subject you are researching. As you prepare such a list of your own, think how your work might help other readers and researchers.

Record the information on your sources accurately. As you format the items in your list, be sure that the titles, authors, page numbers, and dates are error-free so that users can quickly locate the materials you have used.

Follow a single documentation style. Documentation systems like MLA and APA can seem fussy, but they make life easier for researchers by standardizing the way all the identifying features of a source are treated. So when you get an entry right in your annotated bibliography, you make life easier for the next person who needs to cite that source. (understand citation styles)

Keep summaries and assessments brief. Don’t get carried away. In most cases, instructors and other readers will want an annotated bibliography that they can scan. They’ll appreciate writing that is both precise and succinct.

Follow directions carefully. Some instructors may provide specific directions for annotated bibliographies, depending on the field or subject of your research. For example, they may ask you to supply the volume numbers, locations, and physical dimensions of books; describe illustrations; provide URLs; and so on.