How to Create an Annotated Bibliography

This library guide is designed to help you create an annotated bibliography. It will take you through a step-by-step process that starts with topic selection, and ends with a polished, professional document. Click on the blue tabs to navigate between different sections of this guide. 

An annotated bibliography is a helpful research tool that lists useful resources for a specific research topic or area. It includes a short commentary for each book, article, website, etc. that it lists. The commentary is descriptive (tells about the content) and evaluative (tells about the author's point of view, whether the item is "mainstream" or takes a new or radical tack, and for what kind of research it would be useful).

Annotated bibliographies answer the question: "What would be the most relevant, most useful or most up-to-date sources for this topic?" You can see how they are of value to scholars. And, as an assignment, they get you to engage in the work of scholarship, using your knowledge, research, and critical thinking skills.