Research Guides: How to Create an Annotated Bibliography: First Steps

Get hold of the topic

1. Select a topic
Pick something you can handle well within your time and space limitations. Don't pick anything so broad you can't say anything significant, or so narrow that there is nothing much to say. Try picking one aspect of a broad topic in which you're interested.

2. Get a good overview
Use a number of good reference sources to get a handle on your topic, and perhaps identify the "classic" books and articles covering the subject. Examples of sources are general and topical dictionaries and encyclopedias, handbooks, research guides and bibliographies. Remember to ask for help if you need it.

How to Create an Annotated Bibliography

Get hold of the topic

1. Select a topic Pick something you can handle well within your time and space limitations. Don't pick anything so broad you can't say anything significant, or so narrow that there is nothing much to say. Try picking one aspect of a broad topic in which you're interested.

1. Select a topic
Pick something you can handle well within your time and space limitations. Don't pick anything so broad you can't say anything significant, or so narrow that there is nothing much to say. Try picking one aspect of a broad topic in which you're interested.