How to Do a Critical Annotated Bibliography
A critical annotated bibliography provides information about a source for a college paper or other research. It includes vital points about a book, journal article or other source and a brief summary of each. This is more informative and credible than a regular bibliography entry. The purpose of this type of bibliography is to show your critical thinking and highlight the accuracy and relevance of your sources.
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Instructions
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Write the typical bibliography in the format specified to you. It should include the author's name, date and place of publication; title of the book or article; and the name of the publisher. The order in which these elements are arranged will depend on the required format, such as Harvard or Modern Language Association style.
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Examine your sources and write a short critical summary of each. This should highlight the objectives and methodologies of the writers, accuracy of the information, relevance to your work, and any weaknesses and shortcomings. The summary should be about 150 words.
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Place each summary below its bibliographical information and format the annotated bibliography according to the required style. Place the sources in a specific order such as alphabetical or numbered.
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Tips & Warnings
To avoid confusion and mistakes, write the basic bibliography information before summarizing the source.
You have to write an evaluative summary of your sources, not an abstract. Lack of critical or evaluative comments can render the annotation meaningless.
References
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