ELCO High School Library: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES

An annotated bibliography is a compilation of sources on a specific topic.  

Each citation is followed by a brief annotation or discussion of the source. 

The annotation of a source can serve several purposes and is dependent upon the expectations of your teacher.

   Examples of what can be included in an annotation:

• condense the content of the source (write a brief summary of the information)
• evaluate the credibility of the source (analyze for authority, accuracy, currency, objectivity)
• assess the usefulness or relevant application of the source in relation to the topic
• discuss the writer’s background (examine expertise)
• analyze the intended audience (education, age, experience, needs, bias)
• describe your reaction (credible source? value of source? analytical/emotional reaction?

Most annotations are shorter in length.  This will be determined by your teacher.  Typically an annotation consists of:

• 2-3 sentence overview of source
• 3-4 sentence commentary on relevancy of article to topic

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

         New York: Anchor Books, 1995. Print.

      Lamott’s book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott’s book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one’s own internal critic. In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun.

      Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one’s own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.

After creating a new NoodleTools project, you will need to change the Works Cited to an Annotated Bibliography.  Follow the steps below.

MLA

1. Click on WORKS CITED.
2. Once you have entered at least one citation into the works cited, the PRINT/EXPORT button will become available.
3. Click on PRINT/EXPORT.
4. Click on FORMATTING OPTIONS.
5. Next to List Title, click on Works Cited.  You are changing the title of the document you are creating.
6. Click on ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (#4).
7. Next to Annotation Spacing, click Annotation follows citation on the same line.
8. Change spacing to START ANNOTATION ON A NEW LINE.