First: locate academic sources on your particular topic. Refer to your course outline and lecture notes for suggested readings. Use the library to search for additional academic sources. You should aim to cover a range of different perspectives on your topic, so collect a number of different sources. Check the number of sources required for your assessment task.
Second: Note the complete bibliographic details for your chosen texts, in the appropriate referencing style. This will be your citation.
Third: Read and take notes, paying attention to the author's main points and findings, the methodology and scope of their research, and the author's position. These notes will form the basis of your summary.
Finally: Write your annotation using the following structure as a guide.
An annotated bibliography has four key components:
1. Reference: The first part of the annotation is a full citation for the source you are reviewing. Check the referencing style required (e.g APA, Harvard, MLA) and use a style guide to make sure you write the citation in the correct format.
2. Describe: The first few sentences of your annotated bibliography should introduce the source by including a description and summary of the text. This information could include:
3. Evaluate: The next section of the annotation should provide an evaluation of the source; this allows you to demonstrate your critical analysis skills. You could comment on:
4. Link: The final component of an annotation will make clear connections between the source and other aspects of your study.