BIO 206L- Introductory Laboratory Experiments In Biology - Maas

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations containing about a paragraph after each citation. This paragraph will be written by you and will be topically specific to the source cited above it. Typically about 150 to 200 words, the annotation will provide a summary that is clear and concise and an evaluative section that usually consists of a few sentences. 

What is contained in an annotation? 

The annotation will be critical in nature and not only a summary of the content of the work. It may include the following points.

• Brief summation of the findings.
• How the research contributes to your topic or research.
• The evaluative section assesses the article for credibility, currency, accuracy, and authority.
• Contrasting viewpoints or comparisons to other works included in your annotated bibliography.

The annotated bibliography will give the reader a sense of the content and quality of the resource. 

Sample Annotated Bibliography Entries

The following example uses APA style (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, 2019) for the journal citation:

Waite, L., Goldschneider, F., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults. American Sociological Review, 51(4), 541-554.
The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living.

Sample Annotated Bibliography Entries

The following example uses APA style (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, 2019) for the journal citation:

Waite, L., Goldschneider, F., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults. American Sociological Review, 51(4), 541-554.
The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living.

Adapted from "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography" created by Olin Library Reference, Research & Learning Services, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY, USA, with a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons License.