An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
An annotated bibliography looks similar to a works cited page, but with additional information about each source. The citation is typically written in the same style as the rest of the paper (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago). It should include all the necessary information to locate the source, such as the author, title, publisher, and date.
After the citation, the annotation should begin on a new line and be indented. The annotation should provide a summary of the main points or arguments of the source, as well as any evaluation or critique of the work. It should also include a statement about how the source relates to the topic of the paper and whether it will be useful for the reader.
Here is an example of an annotated bibliography in MLA style:
Annotated Bibliography
Banks, Marcus. "The Role of the Police in a Democratic Society." Journal of Law and Justice, vol. 14, no. 2, 2016, pp. 123-145.
In this article, Banks discusses the role of the police in a democratic society and the challenges they face in upholding the law while also protecting civil liberties. He argues that the police should be accountable to the community and transparent in their actions. Banks also discusses the importance of training and professional development for police officers to ensure that they are equipped to handle the complex and dynamic nature of their work.
This source is relevant to my paper because it addresses the relationship between the police and the community, a key aspect of my topic. The information provided by Banks will be useful in my analysis of the role of the police in maintaining order and preserving democratic values.
Doe, Jane. "The Impact of Social Media on Police-Community Relations." Social Media and Society, vol. 3, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1-14.
In this article, Doe examines the ways in which social media has impacted police-community relations. She argues that social media has created new avenues for communication and collaboration between the police and the public, but it has also led to challenges such as misinformation and lack of privacy. Doe discusses the potential benefits and drawbacks of using social media in policing, and offers recommendations for how the police can effectively utilize these platforms.
This source is relevant to my paper because it addresses the role of social media in shaping the relationship between the police and the community. Doe's analysis of the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media will be useful in my evaluation of how technology is affecting this relationship.