Discuss the writer’s background (examine expertise or layman knowledgeability)  Analyze the intended audience (education, age, experience, needs, bias)  Describe your reaction (credible source? value of source? analytical/emotional reaction?) What are the specific requirements for this assignment?

Annotated Bibliography Overview and Requirements

What is an annotated bibliography?
An annotated bibliography is a list of books, articles, and other documents cited in proper documentation style. An annotation, a brief (250-500 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, follows each citation. The purpose of the annotation is to detail and critique the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source cited. Annotations are not a simple summary. Instead, annotations are both descriptive and critical; they provide a summary while also exposing the author’s point of view, clarity, and authority.

What is the purpose of an annotated bibliography?
 To gather information and learn about a topic
 To provide a comprehensive overview of research on the topic
 To inform the readers as to the source’s relevance
 To identify issues surrounding the topic and what other scholar have said about it
 To help other scholars search for and critique potential sources for their research
 To aid in the formulation of a thesis or hypothesis

What is an annotation?
The annotation is a brief paragraph following the citation. The annotation of a source can serve several different purposes and may contain some or all of the following:
 Condense the content of the source (provide a brief summary of the information)
 Evaluate the credibility of the source (analyze for authority, accuracy, current, objectivity)
 Assess the usefulness or relevant application of the source
 Discuss the writer’s background (examine expertise or layman knowledgeability)
 Analyze the intended audience (education, age, experience, needs, bias)
 Describe your reaction (credible source? value of source? analytical/emotional reaction?) What are the specific requirements for this assignment?
 You will locate 5 sources for your research essay assignment.
 You are required to find a variety of sources-books, newspaper articles, magazine articles, journal articles, and websites.

o Only 1 website is allowed for this assignment.
 The website should be evaluated for quality prior to their usage.
 The website should be reliable and credible
 Websites such as Wikipedia, Ask.com, SparkNotes.com, or similar websites are NOT allowed.
 Your annotated working bibliography will be presented in MLA format