APA Annotated Bibliography-2

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations for books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) description and evaluation of the source -- the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the credibility, quality, and relevance of the sources cited.

The Process

Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills:  concise writing, succinct analysis, and informed library research.

  1. Locate books, articles, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. Briefly examine and review. 
  2. Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.
  3. Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme of your source:
    • A summary of the main ideas
    • An evaluation of the authority or background of the author
    • An explanation of how this work is relevant to your research topic

Tracking your citations and notes in an annotated bibliography helps you organize your research and makes it easier to write your paper.

Watch the video below for a 3-minute overview of how to create an annotated bibliography.

Sample Annotated Bibliography entry for a Journal Article

The following example uses the APA format for the journal citation.

Warner, L. (2016). Professional Review. Advantages and Disadvantages of Screening Breast Ultrasonography. Radiologic Technology, 87(4), 455–459.  http://www.asrt.org Links to an external site.

This 2016 study reviews the advantages and disadvantages of screening breast ultrasonography for dense breasts to find occult breast cancers.  It was written by a nurse, radiologist, and breast cancer expert and published in the peer-reviewed journal Radiologic Technology.  It reviews a number of studies with different participants, questions, and technology.  The article draws on numerous experts and clinical studies in multiple countries, providing broad review of current research.  Some of the advantages of mammographies in combination with ultrasonography were higher "sensitivity rates" and earlier identification of invasive carcinoma (p. 455).  Disadvantages included higher false positives and the cost of care versus the years added to a patient's life.  This article will help me learn about current technology and practices for breast cancer screening.