Skip to Main Content
Campus Library Logo

Annotated Bibliographies: What Should be Included in the Annotation?

Guidelines for Preparing an Annotated Bibliography

What Should be Included in the Annotation?

Some information your annotation might provide:  

  • What is the author's thesis and main points? 
  • Who is the author, what is his/her authority or background? 
  • Who is the author’s intended audience? 
  • What parts of the subject does the source emphasize or de-emphasize? 
  • Is there any bias or slant in the source? 
  • Are there any obvious omissions that seem important to the ideas being discussed? 
  • Does the evidence clearly support the author’s main point? 
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the source (critical evaluation)? 

Visit the Evaluating Sources guide for information on how to critically evaluate sources for your annotations.