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How to Write an Annotated Bibliography: Step-by-Step: Writing Your Annotations

Not sure how to start your annotated bibliography? You’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through what it is, how to write one, and how to format your citations. Use the tabs to explore step-by-step instructions, examples, and helpful tools.

Step-by-Step: Writing Your Annotations

Follow these steps to move from selecting sources to a finished annotated bibliography entry. Keep this page open while you work.

Step 1: Find and choose your sources

  • Pick sources that are relevant, credible, and varied. Include books, peer-reviewed articles, and reliable reports if allowed.
  • Scan references in helpful sources to locate authors and studies that appear frequently.
  • Prefer current scholarship if your topic changes quickly. Use seminal works if the field relies on classic texts.

Search the Library | Referencing and Citation Guide

Step 2: Write the citation in APA

Start each entry with a full citation in APA style. Follow punctuation and formatting carefully.

Smith, J. A., & Lee, R. T. (2021). Leadership in crisis situations. Journal of Leadership Studies, 14(2), 55–72. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxxxx

See more examples in the Referencing and Citation Guide.

Step 3: Write the annotation

After the citation, add a short paragraph that does three things.

  1. Summarize: main question, method, and finding or argument.
  2. Evaluate: credibility, strengths, limits, and viewpoint.
  3. Reflect: how this source supports or challenges your project.

Purpose reminder: Writing annotations helps you practice four core skills.

  1. Summarizing complex ideas clearly
  2. Judging credibility and usefulness
  3. Connecting each source to your research question
  4. Building a reusable research inventory

Target word count: 100 to 150 words unless your instructor specifies otherwise.

Step 4: Check your work

  • Citation is complete and correctly formatted in APA.
  • Annotation includes summary, evaluation, and reflection.
  • Length is within the assigned range and written in your own words.
  • Source is relevant to your research question.
  • Entries are in alphabetical order by author surname.

Before you submit

  • Proofread for clarity, grammar, and punctuation.
  • Check spacing, indentation, and hanging indents for APA.
  • Verify author names, titles, dates, and URLs or DOIs.
  • Confirm any assignment-specific requirements such as number of sources or source types.

Step-by-Step Process

 Use the search box below to find books, scholarly articles, and more through the Rabdan Academy Library.