A bibliography is a list of resources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, e

A bibliography is a list of resources (books, journals, websites, periodicals, etc.) one has used for researching a topic. Bibliographies are sometimes called “References” or “Works Cited,” depending on the style format you are using. An annotation is a summary and evaluation of the source.
Writing an annotated bibliography is excellent preparation for writing a research paper. Of course, just collecting sources for a bibliography is useful, but when you have to write annotations for each source, it leads you to read each source more carefully. Thus, you begin to read more critically instead of merely collecting information.
Your annotations should cover the following:
Summarize: First, summarize the details of the information provided in the source. What are the main ideas? What is the purpose of the source (e.g., persuade, inform, instruct)? What topics are covered? What essential details does the author use to support their main ideas?
Assess: After summarizing a source, evaluate it. What type of source is it (e.g., scholarly, high-quality, or popular)? What do you know about the author of the source? What makes the author qualified to write about this topic? How does it compare with other sources in your bibliography? Is this source biased or objective? Is this information current? How do you know the information is reliable?
Reflect: Once you have summarized and assessed a source, you need to ask how it fits into your research. How is this source helpful to you? How does it help you shape your argument? How can you specifically use this source in your final argumentative research paper? How can it be used in terms of the rhetorical triangle (ethos, pathos, logos)? Full development of this section is critical, as it offers a bridge between your ideas and the source information.
How to format the Annotated Bibliography:
Create a citation for each source, using the most current MLA format (sources should be alphabetical, just as with a Works Cited page)
Write a summary paragraph in the third person POV (see above for details)
Write an assessment paragraph (first-person POV is allowed but limit the usage)
Write a reflection paragraph (first-person POV)
Source Requirements:
You must use at least seven credible, relevant, in-depth, and current sources:
A minimum of three scholarly sources (peer-reviewed academic journals) accessed through MCC’s databases (via the library)
Two high-quality or two additional scholarly sources
No more than two may be popular sources
If you do not plan to use the source for your final Argumentative Research essay, it should not appear on your Annotated Bibliography (note: you are welcome to include the 1-2 sources you used for Essay 1, as long as you plan to use them in your final essay and they are credible, appropriate sources).