Getting Research Help
Book a Research Appointment
Get lengthier and more specialized research help with our book an appointment service.
Visit our Research Help Desk
Visit the Research Help Desk on the main floor of the Library for help.
Attend a Workshop
Workshops are scheduled throughout the term.
Online Guides and Videos
How-to guides and videos on writing, research and citation
What is an Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations of books, articles and other sources (the bibliography). Below each citation is a brief description and​ evaluation of the source (this is the annotation).
What is its purpose?
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Inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of your sources.
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Help you learn more about your topic through locating and reading and evaluating the current research on your topic
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It will help you to eventually formulate your thesis. An annotated bibliography gives you an idea of the prevailing perspectives, arguments or theories on your topic, which helps you choose your position.
The steps to creating an annotated bibliography
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Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.
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Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or more sentences that (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with another you have cited, or (d) explain how you plan to use this work.