annotated bibliography mla example 2019
The MLA Handbook, Eighth Edition does not include guidelines for formatting an annotated bibliography. However, your professor may assign an annotated bibliography in MLA style. The annotated bibliography contains descriptive or evaluative comments about your sources. Each citation should adhere to MLA guidelines. Begin your comments immediately following the citation. The title might be ‘Annotated Bibliography’ or ‘Annotated List of Works Cited’.
Your instructor may request an annotated bibliography in order to evaluate the types of sources you are selecting for your research. The annotations should show that you have carefully conducted your research and critically analyzed the information you will use to write your paper. The good news is that the ‘Works Cited’ list will be almost complete before you begin writing. Below is an example of an annotated bibliography in MLA style.
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
Published 4 November 2016
- A reference entry for the book, article, web page, video, or document (using the style required for the assignment, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago)
- The annotation
Some of your courses will require you to write an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources with accompanying paragraphs, called annotations. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source, and to state how this source will be used in the paper or project.
Consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, left, for the most complete information on how to cite your sources. The web pages below may also provide helpful information and examples:
The Libraries’ Research Commons offers a number of videos about organizing your research, using citation managers, writing a literature review, and more. They also offer Common Quandries Workshops and Writing and Research Events throughout the semester which include introductions to a variety of skills, tools, and concepts to researchers on campus.
An annotated bibliography is a descriptive and evaluative list of citations for books, articles, or other documents. Each citation is followed by a brief paragraph – the annotation – alerting the reader to the accuracy, quality, and relevance of that source.
Composing an annotated bibliography helps a writer to gather one’s thoughts on how to use the information contained in cited sources, and helps the reader to decide whether to pursue the full context of the information you provide. It also helps researchers understand the disciplinary terrain; what has been explored by researchers before, and what might be explored in the future.
Each reference citation is followed by a short summary and/or evaluation, also known as an annotation . This brief paragraph explains what is in that source as it applies to your paper. Don’t just repeat what’s in the book or article . Instead, consider:
An Annotated Bibliography is a working list of references —books, journal articles, online documents, websites, etc.—that you might use for an essay, research paper, or project. It may include more sources than your final paper as you may end up not using some of your sources. The reference citation of your source is in APA, MLA, or Chicago Style – see the appropriate tab above.
Choose APA or Chicago style with annotations. MLA style annotated is also available with file download.
Use the EXTRA field with your stand-alone Zotero, to enter the text of your annotation.
- Citation: this is in either APA or MLA format; you include one citation for each source you found in your research
- Summary: a short summary of what is included in your source, which may be composed of the reasoning behind their research, research methods, and conclusions reached
- Evaluation: a short evaluation of the source from your point of view; would you be able to use it for your paper? Why or why not?
An Annotated Bibliography is a list of sources that include annotations of each source. Each annotation is made up of three parts:
In 2016, the Modern Language Association (MLA) published the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook with a similar but new set of guidelines on how to cite sources. They revised the guidelines in order to be more flexible and to better accommodate the online environment. You no longer need to figure out how to cite a particular “kind” of source like a book, DVD, website, etc. Instead, include the 9 “core elements”, in the exact order listed below.
Full guidelines can be found in the MLA Handbook. Two copies of this book are located in the library. Ask for them at the desk.
Source: “Annotated Bibliographies.” Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, 2013. Web. 16 March 2015.
You may be asked to create an annotated bibliography as an assignment in one of your courses. This usually means you will find a number of sources on your chosen topic, and provide a citation as well as both a summary of that source and a description of how that source will help you in your research. Always check with your instructor for specific assignment guidelines.
References:
http://style.mla.org/tag/annotated-bibliographies/
http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/annotated-bibliography
http://lib.guides.umd.edu/c.php?g=326405&p=3414420
http://campusguides.lib.utah.edu/bibannotations
http://libguides.sfasu.edu/aarc/formref/annbiblio
http://libguides.smith.edu/gov329/annotatedbib
http://ivytech.libanswers.com/indianapolis/faq/159864
http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=714709&p=5084876
http://chat.library.berkeleycollege.edu/faq/48865
http://nwtc.libanswers.com/faq/212633