When you write an annotated bibliography, you have the opportunity to summarize, evaluate, and record publication information for your sources before drafting your research paper. You summarize each source to understand its main ideas. You evaluate each source for accuracy, quality, and relevance. Finally, you reflect, asking yourself how the source will contribute to your research project.

Writing brief sentences (annotations) that summarize key points of a source will help you identify how the source relates to your argument. You will also begin to see how one source relates to others. You will be able to judge whether the source is relevant and appropriate for your project. Writing an annotated bibliography will help you clarify your own ideas and your understanding of your sources.

Key features of annotated bibliographies

Exploring ideas for your annotated bibliography

Drafting your annotated bibliography

Revising your annotated bibliography

Presenting your annotated bibliography

Sample student writing: Annotated bibliographies