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.
According to the American Psychological Association's (APA) 6th edition style guide, an annotated bibliography should be formatted as follows:
- Begin each citation with the full reference, formatted according to APA style.
- Indent the annotation following the citation.
- Use double spacing for both the citation and the annotation.
- Use a hanging indent for the annotation, meaning that the first line of the annotation should be flush with the left margin and subsequent lines should be indented.
Here is an example of an annotated bibliography in APA 6th edition style:
Bibliography:
- Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on communication. Journal of Communication, 50(2), 123-145.
Annotation:
Smith's study examines the impact of social media on communication by surveying a sample of college students. The results show that social media has both positive and negative effects on communication. On the one hand, it allows people to connect with others and stay in touch with friends and family. On the other hand, it can lead to a decrease in face-to-face communication and an increase in online conflicts. The study is well-designed and the findings are clearly presented.
In summary, an annotated bibliography is a useful tool for organizing and evaluating the sources you plan to use in your research. It helps you to think critically about the sources and to determine their relevance and credibility. It also provides your readers with a summary of the sources and an idea of their value for your research. By following the guidelines for formatting an annotated bibliography in APA 6th edition style, you can ensure that your work is professional and scholarly.
