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MUS 590: Introduction to Research Methods

Resources for students in MUS 590.

Annotated bibliographies are a common type of academic assignment and a useful research practice. They are composed of two essential parts: a properly formatted citation and a paragraph that summarizes and evaluates the resource

The two parts of the annotated bibliography are equally important because they practice critical research skills, such as learning formatting rules and reading resources critically. They are also a great way to stay organized when working on a large research project, because they not only keep a record of what resources were consulted during the project, but also a summary of each resource and how those resources relate to the project at hand.

As with any assignment, carefully read the instructions from your professor so that you know the exact formatting style that you need to use, how long the annotations must be, and what each annotation must include.

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a helpful document that lists sources and provides an analytical summary about each source. It is arranged exactly like a Works Cited or References page.

An annotated bibliography offers you the opportunity to--

  • Summarize each source to understand its main ideas
  • Evaluate each source's credentials to determine its accuracy, quality, and relevance.
  • Reflect how each source will contribute to your research project.

Provided by the NSU Writing Center

Steps to Begin an Annotated Bibliography

  • As you begin locating sources for our research paper, keep track of publication details for each source.
  • Write your analytical summary in paragraph from, present tense, and third person.
  • As you draft your analytical summary for each source, state the main ideas and key points briefly.
  • Include an evaluation of the source's role and usefulness such as strengths and limitations in your research project.
  • The length of annotation usually runs between 100-200 words; however, check with your professors for their preferences.
  • Title your list of sources with annotations as: Annotated Bibliography.

Provided by the NSU Writing Center