Annotated Bibliography This assignment is designed to help you evaluate sources

Annotated Bibliography
This assignment is designed to help you evaluate sources of information. An
annotated bibliography includes all of the citation information needed to find a
source and a paragraph describing the source.
1. Find a minimum of five sources on your topic – these should be your best
sources so that means you will likely have reviewed many more.
2. ONLY use MLA citation formatting and use it consistently in the
assignment.
3. Look for reliable, valid sources that discuss research and use academic
language.
4. As you write your annotated paragraph, include both a summary of the
source AND an evaluation of the validity of the source and its usefulness.
Paragraphs should be in 4 to 6 strong, full sentences 200-500 words long.
Length of the entry is often linked with the length of the source.
a. Summarize the content of the source – be descriiptive and specific.
b. Evaluate the accuracy and validity of the source.
c. Describe the usefulness of the source.
5. The format should list the citation, then the appropriate paragraph
annotation followed by the next citation and annotation. All entries should
be typed and double spaced.
Brief Example:
Castro, P., Huber, M.E. 2005. Marine biology. 5 th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
451p.
This college-level classroom text provides an overview of oceanography,
marine organisms, marine ecology, and human relationships with the ocean.
Microbes are described in detail in one chapter but are again discussed in the
context of different marine ecosystems. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are
detailed with descriiptions of their varied metabolic reactions. Relationships of
microbes to other organisms through symbiosis are highlighted as well as
concerns of humans through plankton and microbial blooms. The text also
emphasizes how understudied marine microbes are due to research interests
and the difficulty of studying fragile organisms at sea. As a recent publication
by qualified marine researchers and teachers, Castro and Huber, with
extensive academic review, the information is current and valid. The source
provides an excellent overview for the advanced beginner including glossary
and appendices, but requires knowledge of basic biology and chemistry.
Identifying valid sources:
● Look for the author’s credentials. Are they a person who has a
documented knowledge of what they’re researching? Who is paying
them to write this?
● When was the source created? Could research since the time of
publishing have changed the information included in your source? If
so, look for more recent works that give you the same (or different)
information.
● What type of source is this – peer-edited journal, website, book?
● The depth and level of detail offered in the source. It should be
appropriate to your level of understanding but use relevant vocabulary
and cite research to support its information.