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ENG120: Advanced Composition: Annotated Bibliography

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for the sources you used while performing your research. Each citation:

  • Is followed by a short paragraph that describes and evaluates the source
  • Should be about 150-200 words
  • Addresses the source's relevance to your topic and the quality and accuracy of the source

Why Should I Write an Annotated Bibliography?

There are several reasons why you should write an annotated bibliography. They include:

  • Learning about your topic;
  • Helping you critically analyze each source about your topic;
  • Providing yourself, your instructor, and your future readers more information about your research and cited sources;
  • Showing that you have done credible research about your topic.

Use the resources on this page to write an annotated bibliography. If you need additional assistance, please see your instructor or Ask a Librarian.

General APA Style Information

Additional APA information can be found at ECPI's APA Style Guide - 7th Edition.

Creating an APA Style Annotated Bibliography

Sample annotated bibliography from Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition provides the following example:

Figure 9.3 Sample Annotated Bibliography