One of the key steps in crafting a strong argument is to identify key pieces of evidence. A stepping stone for this is an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a document which contains the citations of your key sources followed by a summarization of the strength of the source, the intended audience, the reason for its use, etc. The annotation is not just a summary of the source but a rationale for why you would incorporate it into your argument. You will need to cite a minimum of five sources following the guidelines below in order to receive full credit for this assignment.
How to do it:
Make an MLA or APA works cited list of the minimum number of sources sources you’ve found on your topic. Then, beneath each citation, write an annotation paragraph: 1) A summary of the theme/purpose of the source, 2) an evaluation of the author’s background or authority, 3) a comment on the intended audience, 4) a comparison of this source to a previously cited source, and 5) an explanation of how the source helps define, complicate, or clarify the topic.
Organize your citations alphabetically, by author, using hanging indentations (traditional Works Cited page format). You are encouraged to use EasyBib.com to help you put each entry in the appropriate format. All types of sources have different types of citation, so be sure to enter your information in the appropriate category (Interview? Article? Photograph? Database? Etc…)
To make your bibliography easy to read, please bold the citation, but leave the annotation paragraph un-bolded. It will make everything easier on the eyes
What’s the purpose of an annotated bibliography?