Writing
an MLA Annotated Bibliography
What exactly is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a works cited page that includes an annotation: a short paragraph
that informs the reader of the relevance,
accuracy, and quality
of the sources cited.
Why do I have to
write one of these anyway? Annotated bibliographies require you to think meaningfully
about your sources. As you read through
them, you will consider what content the source covers, how accurate and
current the information is, and how the work will specifically help you with
your project. This is also a very
efficient way for your teacher to review your sources to help you if you are
struggling with your project.
I see the purpose of
an annotated bibliography, but how do I write one? Annotated
bibliographies typically follow the general guidelines listed below. In some cases, your teacher may ask you to
add additional information or let you know that some information is not
required. Be sure to check with your
teacher to make sure you are meeting all of the requirements for your specific
annotated bibliography!
General Guidelines
v Citations should
follow standard MLA format. You
may use the 7th Edition of the MLA Handbook or follow the guidelines
as they are explained on the Purdue OWL’s webpage: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
v Annotations should be written in third person.
Do not use statements that begin with “I thought….” “I feel…” etc.
v Length can vary depending on the project
and source you are evaluating, but 200-300
words per entry is usually acceptable.
v An annotated bibliography
typically includes some or all
of the
following objective criteria; however, remember to check with your teacher for any special
instructions:
Ø Content (topics addressed)
Ø Overall
purpose of the
work
Ø Intended audience for
the work
Ø Authority of the author or
source
Ø Reliability
or bias of the source
Ø Currency of the work
Ø Useful features (illustrations,
maps, references, timelines,
glossary, index, multimedia components)
Ø Usefulness for the project
That’s all great, but can I see an
example of what one of these might look like? Of course you can! Flip over to the back of this page, and you
can see a sample annotated bibliography entry.
Because you are submitting the annotated bibliography separately, you
should also use a correct MLA heading at the top of the paper. Please note that this sample is borrowed from
the Purdue OWL.
