CiteWise

How to write an annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources, each followed by a paragraph that summarises, evaluates and explains why it matters to your research. Here is how to write each part.

The three parts of an annotation

Switch the parts on and off to see what each contributes, and what kind of annotation you get without it.

Nguyen, M., & Ortiz, C. (2021). Sleep loss and next-day recall in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(3), 301–309.

Nguyen and Ortiz report three laboratory studies with 212 students aged 14–17, finding that those who slept under six hours recalled significantly fewer word pairs the next morning, with the largest effect for emotionally neutral material.The repeated design and peer-reviewed venue make the findings credible, though lab recall tasks may not reflect performance in real exams, and the sample came from a single region.The study gives my argument for later school start times direct evidence that short sleep harms the kind of memory students rely on, and I will pair it with field studies to address the lab limitation.

A full critical annotation: what most university assignments want.

Step by step

  1. Choose sources worth annotating. Your brief sets the number; pick ones you’ll genuinely use.
  2. Read with three questions in mind: what is the main argument and evidence? How strong is it? How does it help my question? Jot bullet notes under each.
  3. Write the reference entry in your required style (APA, MLA or Chicago).
  4. Summarise in two or three sentences: argument, method, key findings. Use your own words.
  5. Evaluate in one or two sentences: the author’s expertise, quality of evidence, limitations, bias, currency.
  6. Reflect in one or two sentences: how the source fits your project, what gap it fills, how it compares with your other sources.
  7. Order the entries alphabetically and format the page: title centred, double-spaced, hanging indent on each reference.

Format by style

APA 7MLA 9Chicago 18
Page titleAnnotated Bibliography (bold, centred)Annotated Bibliography (centred)Annotated Bibliography (centred)
ReferenceHanging indent 0.5 inHanging indent 0.5 inHanging indent 0.5 in
Annotation indentWhole block 0.5 in, first line a further 0.5 inWhole block 1 in from the left marginIndented block under the entry
SpacingDouble throughoutDouble throughoutFollow instructor; often double
Title caseSentence case for article and book titlesTitle caseTitle case

Descriptive vs critical annotations

A descriptive (informative) annotation only summarises. A critical (evaluative) annotation also judges quality and relevance. If your assignment says “annotated bibliography” without detail, write critical annotations: they are what most university rubrics reward.

Phrases that help

  • Summary: “The authors examine…”, “Drawing on interviews with…”, “The central argument is that…”.
  • Evaluation: “The large sample strengthens…”, “However, the study does not account for…”, “As a government report, it…”.
  • Reflection: “This source supports my argument that…”, “Unlike Lee (2019), it…”, “I will use its data on…”.

Ready to write? The annotated bibliography builder walks you through each part and exports to Word. See finished examples in APA, MLA and Chicago.

Questions students ask

What is an annotated bibliography?
A list of sources, each formatted as a reference entry and followed by a short paragraph (the annotation) that summarises the source, evaluates it, and explains how it relates to your research.
How long should an annotation be?
Usually 100–200 words, or about one paragraph, unless your brief says otherwise. Some assignments want brief 2–3 sentence annotations; follow the rubric.
What is the difference between a bibliography and an annotated bibliography?
A bibliography (or reference list) lists sources only. An annotated bibliography adds a descriptive and evaluative paragraph after each one.
Do annotated bibliographies need in-text citations?
Not usually. Each annotation sits directly under its source, so it’s clear what you’re discussing. If you quote the source, add the page number in parentheses. If you mention a different source, cite it.
Can I write in first person?
Many instructors accept “I” in the reflection part (“I will use this to…”). The summary and evaluation are normally written in third person. Check your brief.
How is an annotated bibliography ordered?
Alphabetically by the first author’s family name (or the title, if there is no author), the same as a reference list.