Annotated Bibliography: MLA Style

What is an Annotated Bibliography?
An annotated bibliography contains a works cited entry of a possible source followed by a short paragraph or summary (100 – 200 words) describing the work and how you will use it in your paper.

 

To write an annotated bibliography:
Cite and annotate - Depending on the purpose of your bibliography, some annotations may:

• Summarize a source
• Assess or evaluate a source
• Reflect on the source’s possible uses
• Discuss research methodology
• Reflect on strengths, weaknesses, or biases in the material

Consider the purpose of your annotated bibliography and/or your instructor’s directions when deciding how much information to include in your annotations.

Tip: Annotated bibliographies are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names and are indented so that the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.

Note: For information on formatting MLA citations, refer to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 8th Edition. Individual instructor’s specifications may vary, so check with your instructor before formatting and submitting your work.

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