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.
To create an annotated bibliography in MLA style, you will need to follow these steps:
Choose the sources you want to include in your bibliography. This might include books, articles, and documents that you have used in your research or that are relevant to your topic.
Create a citation for each source. This should include the author's name, the title of the work, the publication information, and the medium of publication (e.g. print or web). For more information on how to create MLA citations, you can refer to the MLA Handbook or use an online citation generator.
Write an annotation for each source. Start by summarizing the main points or arguments of the source. Then, evaluate the source by considering its relevance, accuracy, and quality. You might also include any relevant background information or how the source contributes to your research.
Organize your bibliography. Arrange the sources in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If there is no author, you can use the title of the work instead.
Format your bibliography. Use a hanging indent for each citation, so that the first line of each annotation is aligned with the left margin and the rest of the annotation is indented. Use double spacing throughout the bibliography.
Here is an example of an annotated bibliography in MLA style:
Bibliography:
Barry, John. "The Great Influenza." Penguin Books, 2004.
Smith, Jane. "Influenza Outbreaks in the 21st Century." Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 35, no. 2, 2010, pp. 123-134.
Annotations:
Barry, John. "The Great Influenza." Penguin Books, 2004.
In "The Great Influenza," John Barry provides a detailed account of the 1918 flu pandemic, including the scientific discoveries that led to the development of the flu vaccine. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of influenza and the impact it has had on society.
Smith, Jane. "Influenza Outbreaks in the 21st Century." Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 35, no. 2, 2010, pp. 123-134.
In this article, Jane Smith examines the patterns and characteristics of influenza outbreaks in the 21st century. Using data from the World Health Organization, Smith analyzes the frequency and severity of flu outbreaks and identifies potential risk factors. This article is a useful resource for understanding the current state of influenza and how it may evolve in the future.