An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents that follows the appropriate style format for the discipline, such as American Psychological Association (APA) style. 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.
To format an APA annotated bibliography, you will first need to follow the basic formatting guidelines for APA style. This includes using a 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and 1-inch margins on all sides. You will also need to include a page header at the top of each page, with the title of your paper and a page number.
Next, you will need to create a list of your sources. The sources should be listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author. Each source should be formatted according to the guidelines for the specific type of source (e.g., book, journal article, etc.).
After each source, you will need to write the annotation. The annotation should start with a brief summary of the source, followed by an evaluation of the source. The evaluation should include your thoughts on the relevance of the source to your research, the accuracy of the information provided, and the quality of the source overall.
Here is an example of an APA annotated bibliography entry for a book:
Smith, J. (2015). The history of psychology. New York: Random House.
In this book, Smith provides a comprehensive overview of the history of psychology, from its early roots in philosophy to the modern developments in the field. The book is well-researched and provides a balanced view of the various theories and perspectives in psychology. I found this book to be a useful resource for my research on the development of psychology as a discipline.
Remember to always double check your work against the APA style guidelines to ensure that your annotated bibliography is correctly formatted. It is also a good idea to have someone else review your work for any errors or omissions. By following these guidelines and taking the time to carefully create an annotated bibliography, you will be able to showcase the sources you have used in your research in a professional and organized manner.
