Writing an Annotated Bibliography

(Or Works Cited List)

What is an Annotated Bibliography?
An Annotated Bibliography is a properly referenced (using the referencing system prescribed by your instructor) alphabetical list of sources that includes a summary and/or evaluation of each source immediately after its citation. Each source citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph: the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.

What Specifically Should I Write in an Annotation?

Each professor/instructor has their own requirements (in the future, make sure to ask them before handing one in). For the purposes of our class, the annotation should be a proper 4-5 sentence paragraph that addresses the following questions: 1. What content is in your source (ie. what is your source all about)? 2. How will your source be used in your essay (ie. why is your source an important one to use)?

Where Can I Get More Help?

Look to the following university websites for assistance on writing an Annotated Bibliography. These websites provide tips, examples and tutorial instruction if you need them.
Purdue University (Indiana) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/ Cornell University (New York) http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm Memorial University (St. Johns) http://www.library.mun.ca/guides/howto/annotated_bibl.php St. Marys University (Halifax) http://www.stmarys.ca/administration/library/annotbib.html

Always use this title centred

Annotated Works Cited List

Anderson, Timothy. Compassion Towards the Other. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Anderson argues that humans were made by God specifically to help each other through the perils of life. The author reiterates Jesus Greatest Commandment, to love one another as you love yourself, as the central teaching that all people should live by. By treating others with kindness and compassion, we demonstrate a Christ-like love for them. Mother Teresa was a person who embodied this Christ-like love as she worked to help Indias homeless find shelter and nourishment. Anderson explains that we become better people when we all use Christ as our role model. Bannock, John. Mother Teresa: A Compassionate Saint. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1995. Bannock chronicles the life of Mother Teresa from her middle class adolescent in Albania to a Sister of Charity in Calcutta, India. Mother Teresa embodied love and compassion throughout her life assisting the poor and sick in one of the worlds most poverty stricken cities. The author demonstrates that Mother Teresa is a role model for all of us to follow. Although this might take a big commitment on our part, Bannock argues that, in the end, it is worth it. Humans exist together in community and we must be responsible for each others well-being. Benedict XVI, Pope. God is Love (Deus Caritas Est), 3-8. Vatican Official Website. Updated April 8, 2008. 24 April 2008. http://www.vatican.va. Pope Benedict speaks about love as the most important virtue that God wants us to possess. The Pope even argues that God is, in fact, love. Therefore, when people love one another they are creating the Kingdom of God; God is among them because love is present. Mother Teresa was one particular person who demonstrated this love, creating the Kingdom by giving up her life in order to assist the ill and less fortunate in Calcutta. Benedict XVI would argue that anyone who puts others before themselves out of love for neighbour is fulfilling Gods love.

The annotation
(make sure to begin it with a bullet)

Proper bibliographical citation using the preferred citation style (ie. Is it MLA?
APA? Chicago Style? Traditional Style?