How do you annotate?

1. Summarize key points in your own words.
2. Circle key concepts and phrases.
3. Write brief comments and questions in the margins.
4. Use abbreviations and symbols.
5. Highlight/underline.

Annotating is any action that deliberately interacts with a text to enhance the reader’s understanding of, recall of, and reaction to the text. Sometimes called “close reading,” annotating usually involves highlighting or underlining key pieces of text and making notes in the margins of the text.

Include in-text citations if you refer to other works within the annotation paragraph. NOTE: Citation style APA 7th Edition. Modify for other citation styles. When you compose your annotated bibliography, consider each part of the annotation.

Depending on the type of annotated bibliography you are writing, you will want to include:

1. The purpose of the work.
2. A summary of its content.
3. Information about the author(s)
4. For what type of audience the work is written.
5. Its relevance to the topic.
6. Any special or unique features about the material.
7. Research methodology.

Steps to Creating an Annotated Bibliography

1. Find sources related to your topic (check with your instructor to confirm which types of sources are acceptable for the assignment)
2. Critically read and evaluate sources.
3. Create the proper APA citation.
4. Below the citation write your annotation.

What does an annotated bibliography look like?

1. Provide the full bibliographic citation.
2. Indicate the background of the author(s).
3. Indicate the content or scope of the text.
4. Outline the main argument.
5. Indicate the intended audience.
6. Identify the research methods if applicable.

Generally, annotations should be no more than 150 words (or 4-6 sentences long). They should be concise and well-written.

While an annotation can be as short as one sentence, the average entry in an annotated bibliography consists of a work’s citation information followed by a short paragraph of three to six sentences, roughly 150 words in length.

Annotated bibliographies are double-spaced throughout. This includes the space between the title and the first entry, as well as the space between entries.