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IDS 103 - College Orientation and Research Skills: Annotated Bibliography

Steps to Creating an Annotated Bibliography

Collect the required number of articles. Check the assignment instructions for the exact number of articles required

  1. Read each article and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the article
  2. Write the citation for each article
  3. Below the citation, summarize each article and provide a critical assessment of the article. See the "Elements of an Annotated Bibliography" box on this page for some ideas to include in your assessment. 

Elements of an Annotated Bibliography

In an annotated bibliography, each citation is followed by a brief description and evaluation of the source. The length of the annotation is generally 100 to 200 words. Annotations may include some or all of the following elements:

  • An outline of the main argument
  • The content or scope of the text
  • The background of the author
  • Any conclusions made by the author
  • The intended audience
  • Any research methods used
  • The reliability of the text
  • A mention of any special features of the text, such as charts or graphs, that were useful
  • The relevance of the text for your research
  • The way the text relates to themes or concepts in your course
  • The strengths and limitations of the text
  • How you reacted to the text

Source - The University of New South Wales

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