You need a relatively narrow focus (a relatively narrow research question or a working thesis sentence with a clear angle) in order to gain value from doing an annotated bibliography.
As you research, select the sources that seemmost related to your narrow focus.
Skim the sources first; then more carefully read those that seem useful to your research focus.
Summarize the source. Reproduce the author’s main ideas in your own words.
Analyze the source. Ask yourself questions such as the following: Is there enough relevant information to address my narrow focus? Does the author delve deeply into the subject as opposed to offering a general overview? What type of evidence does the author use? Does the author use statistical information accurately, to the best of my knowledge?
Evaluate the source’s usefulness to the narrow focus of your research.
Use the information you develop from questions 4, 5, and 6 to write the body of the annotation.
Use the assigned bibliographic style (usually standard MLA or APA style) to create the bibliography entry that starts off each annotated source on your list.
