Annotated Bibliography

Q: What is an annotated bibliography and how do I do one?

A: An annotated bibliography is similar to a regular bibliography because it lists your research paper’s sources in MLA, APA, or some other professional format. In addition to this usual information, though, an annotated bibliography summarizes or evaluates the content and quality of a source. You should be sure to include the main arguments and points of the source, if it has useful information about your topic, and if it is objective.

For most classes, this write-up should be a few sentences long, but you should ask your instructor about any specific requirements.

MLA EXAMPLES:

Book:

Flinders, Carol. At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst. San Francisco: Harper, 1994.

            Many feminists view spirituality with skepticism because the silence and suppression that is required by traditional religion have been imposed on women for centuries. But, as Flinders provocatively clarifies, spirituality and feminism are not entirely incompatible, and a spiritual feminist movement is possible. Women readers should be able to easily identify with the personal stories contained within the pages.

Journal Article:

Bouma, Gary, and Brace-Govan, Jan. “Gender and Religious Settlement: Families, Hijabs, and Identity.” Journal of Intercultural Studies 21 (2000): 159-175.

            This paper focuses on the role of women in religious settlement and compromise. The processes by which women form religious identities differ from that of men and more often create conflict with expectations from themselves, their partners, their religious organizations, and their new societies. Minority women should especially find comfort in reading this article.

APA EXAMPLES:

Book:

Flinders, C.L. (1998). At the root of this longing: Reconciling a spiritual hunger and a feminist thirst. San Francisco: Harper.

Many feminists view spirituality with skepticism because the silence and suppression that is required by traditional religion have been imposed on women for centuries. But, as Flinders provocatively clarifies, spirituality and feminism are not entirely incompatible, and a spiritual feminist movement is possible. Women readers should be able to easily identify with the personal stories contained within the pages.

Journal Article:

Bouma, G., and Brace-Govan, J. (2000). Gender and religious settlement: families, hijabs, and identity. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 21, 159-175.

This paper focuses on the role of women in religious settlement and compromise. The processes by which women form religious identities differ from that of men and more often create conflict with expectations from themselves, their partners, their religious organizations, and their new societies. Minority women should especially find comfort in reading this article.