How to Create an Annotated Bibliography

How to Create an Annotated BibliographyAn annotated bibliography is a free compilation of published works in which the editors and publishers have included information on the authors and the editors of the book. It is a handy reference that can be used by students and scholars to gain an overview of a particular subject.Many people feel intimidated by their literary scholar or experienced academic researcher who is just as confused as they are about how to create an annotated bibliography. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to provide a user with a quick, easy and accurate way to identify previous publications that might otherwise be hard to find, such as when there are a limited number of references. With an annotated bibliography, one can easily see if a specific publication has any other writings on the same topic, especially if these other writings have already been cited in other publications.There are many steps in the process of compiling an extensive research on a to pic. First, one must gather sources in order to gain a broad overview of a topic. Next, they need to compare this article to previous works to see if the findings of the first is more valid than the second. The third step involves creating an annotated bibliography of existing works on the topic that are either only published, but which do not contain the author's name, or that are published only in a limited number of copies.An annotated bibliography is not a substitute for the steps listed above; rather, it is merely a means of expediting research, increasing productivity, and keeping a portfolio of published work. In the case of a writer, an annotated bibliography can serve as a reference manual to include in any research or writing process.An annotated bibliography is very similar to an annotated index. When researching a book, authors, or subject matter, there are several common tasks and steps to creating an annotated bibliography. These steps are more or less the same, but th ey can be slightly different due to the differences between the source and research materials. Let's go over each of the steps that are involved in an annotated bibliography:Step One: Finding a Source: The first step in compiling an annotated bibliography is choosing a particular source that will help the individual to compile an effective bibliography. If one wants to utilize published works to complement their research, they should consider using the book's list of sources as a way to find past publications that might not appear in print.Sources include article sources, public records, and other sources that have been published on the same topic, and most publishers have guidelines for citing sources. However, if one intends to use an existing work or publication, they should be sure to cross-reference any sources in the publication and ensure that no citations have been made to other sources. The copyright dates and titles of the publications should also be included with the name s of the authors and editors.Step Two: Comparing Sources: The second step in creating an annotated bibliography is comparing all sources to make sure that the work is up to date and accurate. In order to compare the sources, the different publications should be cross-referenced according to publication date and subject matter. Also, both the publisher and the author should be listed in the sources themselves. The author should be listed on the cover page and in the text.