Expert Guide on How to prepare an Annotated Bibliography

by elizabeth on Oct 18th, 2022 12:15 PM

Annotated bibliography lists citations to literary resources used in an academic paper. Each source is supported by a brief of about 150 words, stating the reference’s relevance, quality, and accuracy. Annotations are different from abstracts that are provided at the beginning of the journal papers. Abstracts are mostly descriptive summaries, whereas annotations offer critical views of the paper. This list may include descriptive, analytic and evaluative information for the readers of the document.

An annotated bibliography differs from the reference list that is often provided at the end of a research paper. If you are new to being an essay writer, you need to have proper clarity about how to prepare an annotated bibliography and you may find this article informative. This article explores the various process involved in the making of annotated bibliography.

Listing citations

The process of creating an efficient annotated bibliography starts with informed library research. You need to search for keywords based on the research questions. Your research questions will guide you for effective keywords, which will help you find relevant sources. Once you find a relevant journal, skim through the main portions like abstract, findings,
recommendations and conclusion to determine if it is a suitable source for your research. You need to record the citation using the appropriate style. This is important since each university has different preference for citation style. Then you summarize the article based on its main issue and scope of research. You may also mention how it is related to your research.

Experienced online essay writer help focus on the main arguments provided in the papers and various topics discussed. You can write a paper critically if you include different points of views of several authors and then place your arguments. You may also include citations that support your ideas. You may also compare the citation with other sources in the reference list.

Summary, Assessment and Reflections

An annotation may be more than just a summary. Each citation may be supported by a summary, assessment and reflections. You may include one of these or all, depending upon the requirements of the research. You may summarize the content of the source, indicating the topics covered. This summary should include the main arguments, findings and recommendation of the author. You may support the summary with your own assessment of the paper, which implies that you may evaluate whether the source was reliable, biased or objective. You may also indicate whether the author is creditable in your opinion. Your evaluation may direct whether the source was informative and useful, particularly for your research. You may also reflect on how the source has contributed to your research. There are several other ways to support a citation. The nature of the annotated bibliography depends on the requirement of your assignments or the journal where you intend to get published.

Format

The format of the annotated bibliography should be consistent and should follow the requirement of your university or the publishing journal. The format has to be according to the recommended guidelines. There are several popular formats such as APA, Harvard, MLA, etc. The universities may even have their own style of referencing. In other words, if you write this paper for me for your university assignment, make sure that you follow the format strictly. The best way to ensure that your format of the bibliography is perfect is to compare it with the guidelines provided on the university websites.

Avoiding Plagiarism and grammar errors

You can easily avoid these errors by using online tools that check for plagiarism and grammar errors. As a rule of thumb, do not use more than two words from a source; rather rephrase the entire content according to your comprehension. This will save a lot of time and energy. Even then, it is always safe to check your writing using online tools.
When you research on a paper, always cite as you write the content, this will save you a lot of work later. In addition, list the citations as you go, since this will avoid confusion later on. Most universities consider bibliography seriously to allot significant marks, so ensure that you follow all the rules demanded by the institution. Annotated bibliography offers an understanding of the literature review of the research paper.