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Writing an annotated bibliography APA is important in your paper. What does a good one do? It can encourage you in thinking more critically, making you more careful about choosing the works you’re citing on your paper. Including annotated bibs also prove that you’re read your sources, according to Writing Center.

These bibliographies also establish that your work is a result of your research, which has valid sources, making you a competent researcher. They also provide your readers an idea and help them make decisions if your study is helpful for their research.

APA Style Annotated Bibliography Writing Service Tips

What are the elements that that annotation must include? It must be according to the citation style required by your professor. It could be APA or MLA, among others.  The annotated bib must also include an explanation of the main points or purpose of the work – or its central thesis or idea that can show the other things that you have read.

The annotated bib also provides a verification and critique on the qualifications or authority of the sources that you’ve used. It also contains the comments on the usefulness and effectiveness of the work when it comes to the topic being researched.

Another element of a good bibliography is the perspective or point of view from which the work was written. For example, you can take note and write if you find that a particular author is biased towards a particular subject or trying to reach only a particular audience.

The annotated bibliography includes all the relevant links to the references you cited. They are the work done in the area, helping you highlight connections among them as well.

More Tips

1.  Look for and record the citations of the periodicals, books and other written documents, which may have useful information or idea about your topic, according to CORNELL.  You must closely review these items and select those that can give you different perspectives on your topic.  You must do it before you write the citation following the APA format for annotated bibliography.

2.  You must use the correct style for the citation of the document or book.  The annotated bibliography must be able to summarize the central idea or scope of the work, article or book you have used. This can be some sentences that will evaluate the author’s credibility or background on the subject, contrast and compare his work with others you have used as well and comment on your intended audience. Check and explain how the work is illuminating the bibliography topic.

3.  UTORONTO says that there are different kinds of bibliographies.  Pay attention to the instructions of your professor to ensure that you’re following the guidelines. There are assignments that need only summaries, not evaluations. There are assignments require that you comment on the differences and similarities among sources.

In other assignments, you may be asked to treat every source independently. If you’re using a long bibliography, you may want to organize them into sections. By organizing them into sections, you can clarify the research question. In some assignments, you may be required to preface the bibliography by writing a paragraph to explain the investigation scope as well as provide a rationale for selecting your sources.

4.  If you want to gain value in the bibliography, you must be able to narrow your focus. To be able to do that, you must skim through all your sources, read them carefully to sort them out and know what are the most useful to use for your research. Summarize your sources, and then reproduce the ideas but using your words. You must not change the structure or wording while putting the sources in your words.  When done, analyze the source/s and then ask yourself some questions.  Does the writer or author highlight relevant and important information help me narrow my focus?  What is the evidence used by the author? Did he or she use statistical information correctly?

Hope you picked up something about creating the APA format for annotated bibliography and preparing your annotated bib. Remember these tips and apply them when writing your bibliography.

Write accurately annotated bibliographies! Use our tips and this good resource in writing an annotated bibliography APA today!