what is a bibliography in a presentation

How to Do a Bibliography on Powerpoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a bibliography in PowerPoint is straightforward. You simply add a new slide at the end of your presentation where you list all of your sources. This is essential for crediting the work of others and avoiding plagiarism. It’s also a great way to provide your audience with resources for further reading.

After completing your bibliography, you’ll have a professional and credible PowerPoint presentation. Your audience will appreciate your attention to detail and your respect for the intellectual property of others.

Introduction

When it comes to giving presentations, the devil is often in the details. One important detail that sometimes gets overlooked is the bibliography. Whether you’re a student presenting a research project or a professional sharing industry insights, citing your sources is crucial. It not only gives credit where credit is due but also strengthens your own credibility. So, how do you go about adding a bibliography to your PowerPoint presentation? And why is this step so essential?

A bibliography in PowerPoint serves as a reference point for your audience, allowing them to verify the facts you present and explore the topic further on their own time. It’s also a mark of professionalism and academic integrity. This is particularly relevant for students, researchers, and professionals who rely on the work of others to support their own findings. In a world where information is easily accessible, it’s important to distinguish between original ideas and borrowed insights.

How to Do a Bibliography on PowerPoint

The following steps will guide you through adding a bibliography to your PowerPoint presentation. This will ensure that you properly acknowledge the sources of your information.

Step 1: Add a New Slide

Add a new slide at the end of your presentation for your bibliography.

This new slide will be dedicated entirely to your bibliography. It is typically the last slide of your presentation. Make sure it’s clearly titled so that your audience knows what it is.

Step 2: List Your Sources

List all the sources you used in your presentation in the new slide.

Your sources should be listed in a clear and organized manner. You can choose to format them alphabetically by the author’s last name or in the order that they appear in your presentation. Be consistent with your formatting choice throughout.

Step 3: Use a Consistent Format

Use a consistent format for each source, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

The formatting style you choose will depend on your field of study or the preferences of your audience. Whatever style you opt for, make sure that every source is formatted the same way. This includes the order of information and punctuation.

Step 4: Include All Necessary Information

Make sure to include all necessary information such as the author’s name, title, publisher, and publication date.

For each source, there are specific details that must be included to make it a complete citation. This typically includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the publisher, and the date of publication. For online sources, you might also need to include the URL and the date you accessed the information.

Step 5: Review and Revise

Review your bibliography for accuracy and completeness.

Go over your bibliography one more time to ensure that all sources are correctly cited and that you haven’t missed anything. A small error in your bibliography can call into question the accuracy of your entire presentation.

Additional Information

When compiling your bibliography on PowerPoint, it’s important to remember the small details that can make a big difference. For instance, did you know that the order in which you list authors’ names may change based on the citation style you’re using? And what about those pesky URLs for online sources – should you include the date you accessed them or just the date they were published?

It’s also wise to consider the design of your bibliography slide. Just because it’s the last slide in your presentation doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought. Ensure that it’s consistent with the overall design and theme of your presentation. Use the same fonts and color schemes, and make sure the text is readable. Remember, people will likely refer back to this slide, so it should be as polished as the rest of your presentation.

Lastly, while PowerPoint is a fantastic tool for presenting visual information, it may not always be the best for displaying a lot of text, such as a lengthy bibliography. In such cases, consider providing a handout with your bibliography or directing your audience to a URL where they can access it online.

• Add a new slide for your bibliography
• List your sources on the new slide
• Use a consistent citation format
• Include all necessary source information
• Review your bibliography for accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use bullet points for my bibliography entries.

Yes, bullet points are a great way to organize your bibliography entries clearly and concisely.

Do I need to include a bibliography even if I only used one source?

Yes, even if you only used one source, you should still include a bibliography slide to give proper credit.

What if I can’t find all the information needed for a citation?

If certain information is missing, do your best to provide as much detail as possible and indicate if a particular piece of information is not available.

Can I just use hyperlinks for online sources instead of full citations?

While hyperlinks are useful, they may not be accessible if the presentation is printed or shared as a PDF, so full citations are still necessary.

How many sources are too many for a PowerPoint bibliography?

There’s no set limit, but if your bibliography is very long, consider providing it in a separate handout or document.

Creating a bibliography on PowerPoint may seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of your presentation, but it holds significant weight in the professional and academic realms. It not only showcases the depth of your research but also upholds the integrity of your presentation by acknowledging the authors and creators of the content you’ve referenced.

Remember, your bibliography is a testament to the work you’ve put into your presentation. It adds to your credibility as a presenter and informs your audience about the sources of your information. So, next time you’re wrapping up that PowerPoint presentation, take the extra time to ensure your bibliography is polished and professional. It’s a small step that can have a big impact.

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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How to Cite Sources in Presentations: A Detailed Guide

Learn how to cite sources in presentations accurately to enhance credibility and engage your audience effectively.

Understanding the Importance of Citing Sources

Choosing the right citation style.

• APA (American Psychological Association) : Often used in the social sciences.
• MLA (Modern Language Association) : Common in humanities.
• Chicago/Turabian Style : Frequently used in business, history, and fine arts.
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) : Preferred in technical fields.

How to Cite Sources in the Slide Content

• "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." - Steve Jobs (Apple Inc.)
• According to research by Harvard Business Review, innovative companies outperform the market average by 45%.
• 75% of marketers saw an increase in engagement through targeted emails. (Source: Mailchimp, 2023)

Incorporating Citations Visually

Tools and software for managing citations.

• EndNote: Great for managing references and bibliography.
• Zotero: Useful for collecting, organizing, managing, and citing research sources.
• Mendeley: Helps in organizing research, creating bibliographies, and even networking with other researchers.

Best Practices for Citing Sources in Presentations

• Be Consistent: Use the same citation style throughout your presentation.
• Keep it Readable: Make sure that citations do not clutter your slides. Keep them brief and to the point.
• Verify Sources: Always double-check the credibility of your sources before including them in your presentation.
• Practice Ethical Citing: Always give credit where it's due, even for images, videos, and music.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

Let’s be honest: Sometimes the best information for a paper comes straight from a professor’s PowerPoint presentation. But did you know that source needs to be cited?

Whether you’re making use of your instructor’s lecture materials or pulling information from a Powerpoint found online, you need to make sure to cite your sources if you use information from it in a project or paper.

Here’s a run -t hrough of everything this page includes:  

• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style

By now, you’re probably familiar with how to cite websites, books or journal articles, but not as knowledgeable about how to cite a Powerpoint presentation. In actuality, citing PowerPoint presentations aren’t all that different from citing written materials, so don’t let yourself be phased! It’s not too hard and compiling an MLA works cited or APA reference page doesn’t take too long—each one should take just a few minutes to create.

To help you with the process, we’ve put together a handy guide demonstrating how to cite a PowerPoint presentation in three commonly used citation styles: MLA, APA and Chicago.

Let’s start by looking for basic information you’ll need for the citation.

Information you may need to cite a PowerPoint Presentation:

• Author or authors of the presentation
• Presentation title
• Date of publication/presentation
• Place of publication/where the presentation was given
• URL (if used to locate the presentation)

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format:

MLA format citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. Presentation Title. Month Year, URL. PowerPoint Presentation.

Example citation :

Park, Lisa. Effective Working Teams . Jan. 2011, https://www.company.meetings/teams. PowerPoint Presentation.

In-text citation structure:

(Last Name)

Example in-text citation:

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format:  

APA reference structure:

Author or Presenter Last Name, Middle Initial. First Initial. (Date of publication). Title of presentation [PowerPoint presentation]. Conference Name, Location. URL

Example reference:

Park, L. (2011, March 24-28). Effective working teams [PowerPoint presentation]. Regional Dairy Workers National Conference, New York, NY, United States. https://www.company.meetings/teams

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style:

Chicago citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Presentation Title.” Lecture, Location of Lecture, Month Day, Year.

Example citation:

Park, Lisa. “Effective Working Teams.” Lecture, The Plaza Hotel, New York, NY, January 11, 2011.

Troubleshooting

Solution #1: how to cite a powerpoint that has multiple authors..

For a presentation with multiple authors, list the authors alphabetically by last name for the full reference citation. The citation will list each author by Last Name, First Initial.

If the PowerPoint has just two authors, separate them with a comma and an ampersand (&). If the PowerPoint has more than two authors, list the authors separated by commas.

Reference examples:

Felner, D., & Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Felner, D., Nguy, A., Becham, G. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

For an in-text citation for two authors, give both surnames separated by an ampersand (&) followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

For an in-text citation for three or more authors, list the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

In-text citation examples:

(Felner & Nguy, 2021)

(Felner et al., 2021)

For a PowerPoint with two presenters or authors, include both names in the full works-cited citation. The names need to be written as follows: First presenter’s Last Name, First Name, and then the second presenter’s First Name and Last Name.

For an in-text citation, simply list the surnames of both presenters.

In-text citation example:

(Nguy and Felner)

Work-cited entry example:

Nguy, Anna and Dominic Felner. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

For a PowerPoint with three or more presenters, only list one presenter’s name followed by a comma and “et al.”

For an in-text citation for three or more authors or presenters , list the surname given in the full works-cited citation followed by “et al.”

(Nguy et al.)

Nguy, Anna et al. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

Solution #2 How to cite a slideshow that wasn’t made with PowerPoint

If making a full works-cited citation for a slideshow that was made with another program other than PowerPoint, include the medium in brackets instead of PowerPoint.

If the presentation is not in PowerPoint, and you can’t determine what software was used, include the word “slideshow” in brackets in place of PowerPoint.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Prezi presentation]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other APA in-text citation (author last name, year).

(Nguy, 2021)

At the end of your full works-cited citation, include the program the slideshow was made with, formatted as:  ______ Presentation.

If you are uncertain of the program used, end your citation with “slideshow” followed by a period. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation. Apr. 2021. Prezi Presentation. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation . Apr. 2021. Slideshow.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other MLA in-text citation (author last name).

Hello all paper writers! Take a moment to try our spell checker , or refresh your knowledge on English basics with our EasyBib grammar guides ! Discover a determiner definition , learn what is an adverb , review an interjection list , and more.   

Updated April 26, 2021.

Citation Guides

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• Block Quotes
• Citation Examples
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• Page Numbers
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
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• View APA Guide
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• View MLA Guide

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To cite PowerPoint presentation slides, include the author name, year/date of presentation, the title, the source description, the website and/or university name, and the URL where the source can be found.

If the PowerPoint presentation is not accessible to the reader, cite the slides as personal communication.

If you want to cite a PowerPoint in MLA or APA style, you need to have basic information including the name of the author(s), title of the presentation, date and place of publication, and URL. For in-text citations, you need to include only the author name(s) in MLA style and author name(s) and year in APA style.  

APA in-text citations

(Author Surname, publication year)

(Dhanalakshmi, 2004)

MLA in-text citations

(Author Surname)

(Dhanalakshmi)

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APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Powerpoint Presentations

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Powerpoint presentations - what do i need to cite, powerpoint presentations - where do my citations go, other digital assignments - where do my citations go, quick rules for an apa reference list.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. Here are nine quick rules for this Reference list.

• Start a new page for your Reference list. Centre the title, References, at the top of the page.
• Double-space the list.
• Start the first line of each reference at the left margin; indent each subsequent line five spaces (a hanging indent).
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the reference. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
• For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first (and middle, if listed) initials followed by periods.
• Italicize the titles of these works: books, audiovisual material, internet documents and newspapers, and the title and volume number of journals and magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of most parts of works, such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document.
• In titles of non-periodicals (books, videotapes, websites, reports, poems, essays, chapters, etc), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, and all proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations, nationalities).
• If a web source (not from the library) is not a stable archived version, or you are unsure whether it is stable, include a statement of the accessed date before the link.

What am I legally required to cite in my digital assignment?

According to the Copyright Act, you must cite the sources (images, videos, books, websites, etc.) that you used in your digital assignment ( 29.21(1)(b) ). You must cite the source (where you got the information from) and the creator of the content (if available). You must also make sure that any copyrighted materials you used in your assignment meet the conditions set out in section  29.21  of the Copyright Act. For a list of conditions and more information, please visit:  http://studentcopyright.wordpress.com/mashups/

What citation style do I use for the sources in my digital assignment?

There is no one required citation style, so please defer to your instructor's directions and citation style preference.

List your sources in a slide at the end of the Powerpoint presentation, with footnotes throughout your presentation as applicable.

You could also provide a print copy of the sources you used to those attending your presentation.

Seneca Libraries has the following recommendations for how to organize your list of sources for digital assignments. Please check with your instructor first:

Videos you create: 

List your sources in a credits screen at the end of the video.

Websites you create:

• For images, include a citation under each image using this format “From: XXXX” and then make the image a link back to the original image ( example  - picture of little girl). Or list the citation at the bottom of the web page.
• For quotes or material from other sources, include an in-text citation that links back to the original material ( example  – second paragraph).

Images you create: 

If possible list your sources at the bottom or side of the image ( example ). Otherwise, include a list of citations alongside the image wherever it’s uploaded (e.g. Flickr, Blackboard).

**Please note that the above are recommendations only and your instructor may have a preference and directions for how and where you list your sources for your assignment.**

If you don't receive specific instructions from your instructor, try to include your citations in a way that doesn't impact the design of your digital assignment.

For more information please contact Seneca Libraries copyright team at  [email protected]

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How to Cite in a PowerPoint Apa

Citing sources in any academic presentation is essential to establishing your credibility as a presenter and ensuring the accuracy and validity of your information. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to cite sources in a PowerPoint presentation using the APA citation style. It will cover everything from understanding the importance of citing sources, the step-by-step guide to citing sources in APA format, tips for creating an effective bibliography, using in-text citations and creating a reference list, common mistakes to avoid, editing and updating citations, and best practices for ethical and accurate citations in your PowerPoint presentation.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Citing Sources in a PowerPoint Presentation

Citing sources in a PowerPoint presentation is important for several reasons. Firstly, citing sources helps establish the credibility and expertise of the presenter on the topic. When sources are cited, the audience is able to see that the information presented is backed up by trusted and reliable sources. Secondly, citing sources promotes academic integrity and avoids plagiarism, which can lead to serious consequences in academic and professional settings. Lastly, citing sources provides additional information and context for the audience, which helps to enhance their understanding of the topic at hand.

It is also important to note that citing sources in a PowerPoint presentation can help the audience to further explore the topic on their own. By providing a list of sources used in the presentation, the audience can refer to these sources for more in-depth information and research. This not only enhances their understanding of the topic, but also encourages them to continue learning and exploring beyond the presentation itself.

Understanding the APA Citation Style for Presentations

The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used in academic writing, including presentations. The APA style is used for citing sources in the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and education. The APA style uses a specific format for citations, which includes the author’s last name, the publication date, and the page number for in-text citations. The reference list at the end of the presentation should include all cited sources, in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

It is important to note that the APA citation style is constantly evolving and being updated. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest changes and guidelines to ensure that your citations are accurate and in compliance with the APA style. Additionally, there are many online resources and citation generators available to assist with creating APA citations for presentations and other academic writing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Citing Sources in APA Format in PowerPoint

The following is a step-by-step guide to citing sources in APA format in your PowerPoint presentation:

• Identify the source you want to cite and gather all relevant information, including the author’s name, publication date, title of the work, and publisher information.
• Insert a text box on the slide where you want to include the citation.
• Type out the citation in the correct APA format, which usually includes the author’s last name, publication date, and page number (if applicable).
• Format the text box to match the rest of the presentation, including font, font size, and color.
• Ensure that the citation is visible and legible to the audience.
• Repeat this process for all sources you want to cite in your PowerPoint presentation.

It is important to note that in-text citations should also be included in your PowerPoint presentation. These citations should be placed immediately after the information you are citing and should include the author’s last name and the publication date.

Additionally, if you are using images or graphics in your presentation that are not your own, you should also include a citation for these sources. This can be done by adding a caption or text box beneath the image that includes the source information.

Tips for Creating an Effective Bibliography in PowerPoint

Creating an effective bibliography in your PowerPoint presentation is essential to providing accurate and reliable information to your audience. A bibliography should include all sources that were used in the presentation, including books, articles, websites, and other forms of media. Here are a few tips for creating an effective bibliography:

• Double check all sources to make sure they are cited correctly and formatted according to APA style guidelines.
• Ensure that all sources are listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
• Include all relevant publication information for each source, including the title, author, publication date, and publisher information.
• Use hanging indents to separate each source and make the list easier to read.

Another important aspect to consider when creating a bibliography in PowerPoint is to ensure that you have included all the necessary sources. This means that you should not only include the sources that you have directly cited in your presentation, but also any sources that have influenced your research or thinking on the topic.

It is also important to keep your audience in mind when creating a bibliography. If your presentation is aimed at a specific audience, such as academics or professionals in a particular field, you may need to include more specialized sources that are relevant to that audience. On the other hand, if your presentation is aimed at a general audience, you may need to include more accessible sources that are easier for non-experts to understand.

Using In-Text Citations in Your PowerPoint Presentation

In-text citations are a critical component of any academic presentation, as they provide evidence and support for the information presented. In-text citations in APA style generally include the author’s last name, the publication date, and the page number where the information can be found. In-text citations should be placed immediately after the relevant information, in parentheses. For example, (Smith, 2010, p. 25).

It is important to note that in-text citations should be used not only for direct quotes, but also for paraphrased information. This helps to avoid plagiarism and gives credit to the original author. Additionally, in-text citations should be included for any images, graphs, or charts used in the presentation that were not created by the presenter.

When creating a PowerPoint presentation, it is recommended to include a slide at the end of the presentation that lists all sources used. This slide should include the full citation information for each source, formatted according to APA style guidelines. This allows the audience to easily access and verify the information presented in the presentation.

How to Create a Reference List for Your PowerPoint Presentation

The reference list is the final component of your PowerPoint presentation, and it includes all sources that were cited in the presentation. The reference list should be formatted according to APA style guidelines, and should include the following information for each source: author name, publication date, title of work, and publication information. The reference list should be organized alphabetically by author last name.

It is important to note that not all sources used in the presentation need to be included in the reference list. Only sources that were directly cited or paraphrased in the presentation should be included. Additionally, if a source was used multiple times in the presentation, it only needs to be listed once in the reference list.

When creating the reference list, it is helpful to use a citation management tool such as EndNote or Zotero. These tools can automatically format the reference list according to APA style guidelines and can save you time and effort in manually formatting the list. However, it is still important to double-check the formatting to ensure accuracy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing Sources in Your PowerPoint

While citing sources in a PowerPoint presentation is an essential component of academic and professional presentations, there are several common mistakes that presenters should avoid. These include:

• Forgetting to cite sources altogether
• Citing sources incorrectly or inconsistently
• Using outdated or unreliable sources
• Misrepresenting or cherry-picking information from sources
• Plagiarizing or failing to paraphrase information correctly

It is important to note that citing sources is not only necessary for ethical reasons, but it also adds credibility to your presentation. By providing accurate and reliable sources, you are demonstrating that you have done your research and are knowledgeable about the topic at hand. Additionally, it is important to properly format your citations according to the style guide specified by your instructor or organization. This includes using the correct citation format for different types of sources, such as books, articles, and websites. By avoiding these common mistakes and taking the time to properly cite your sources, you can ensure that your presentation is well-researched and professional.

How to Edit and Update Citations in Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you need to change or update a citation in your PowerPoint presentation, it’s important to do so correctly so as not to compromise the accuracy and reliability of your information. To edit or update a citation, simply locate the text box where the citation is located and make the necessary changes. Be sure to double-check all edited and updated citations to ensure that they are accurate and adhere to APA style guidelines.

It’s also important to note that if you are using a citation management tool, such as EndNote or Zotero, any changes made to the citation in the tool will automatically update in your PowerPoint presentation. However, if you manually entered the citation, you will need to make the changes manually as well. Additionally, if you are unsure about how to properly format a citation, consult the APA style guidelines or reach out to a librarian or writing center for assistance.

Incorporating Visual Elements into Your Citations in PowerPoint

While citations in PowerPoint presentations may seem like a small detail, they can actually be an opportunity to incorporate visual elements into your presentation and enhance the overall design and layout. Consider using different font styles, colors, and formatting options to make your citations stand out and make them more visually appealing and engaging.

One way to incorporate visual elements into your citations is to use icons or images that represent the source you are citing. For example, if you are citing a book, you could use an image of a book next to the citation. This not only adds visual interest but also helps the audience quickly identify the type of source being cited.

Another way to make your citations more visually appealing is to use a consistent style throughout your presentation. This could include using the same font, color scheme, and formatting for all of your citations. This creates a cohesive look and feel for your presentation and helps to reinforce your branding and messaging.

Best Practices for Ethical and Accurate Citations in Your PowerPoint Presentation

Finally, it’s important to follow best practices for ethical and accurate citations in your PowerPoint presentation. These include:

• Using credible and reliable sources
• Citing all sources accurately and properly using APA style guidelines
• Avoiding plagiarism by properly paraphrasing and citing all information
• Double-checking all citations for accuracy and consistency
• Providing a comprehensive bibliography and reference list

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your PowerPoint presentation is accurate, reliable, and informative, and that your citations are ethical and up to professional standards.

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How to Do a Bibliography on Powerpoint

Including a bibliography at the end of a PowerPoint presentation is more than just a useful guide for your audience: It adds professionalism and credibility to your presentation, showing your audience that you have done your research. Although PowerPoint does not include a tool for creating a bibliography, a basic Title and Content slide added to the end of your presentation provides the tools to create one. When it comes to the formatting of each reference, style requirements vary among institutions that set the standards, including colleges, scientific organizations, or groups that produce their own research. If you are presenting to such a group, rather than a general audience, follow their formatting requirements in your bibliography.

Creating a Bibliography Slide

• Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and scroll down to the last page on your presentation. Insert a new slide by clicking the "Home" tab, then click the "New Slide" arrow in the Slides group of the Ribbon.
• Select the "Title and Content" slide from the available Office Theme options. This gives you two text boxes; one formatted for a title and one for text.
• Click the "Title" text box and type "Bibliography."
• Click the "Content" text box. If a bullet point appears, press the "Backspace" key to delete it. Type your first reference, beginning with the author's last name, followed by a comma, a space and the first name. Refer to the Reference Formatting Section to correctly format each reference according to its type.
• Use hanging paragraphs for each reference that requires more than one line. These are left-aligned paragraphs in which all but the first line are indented. To do this, simply press the "Return" key at the end of the first line, then press the "Tab" key, or insert five spaces before typing the second line.

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• Use the appropriate format for each type of reference based on the expectations of your audience. The Modern Language Association has a specific style, for example, as does the American Psychological Association. However, a bibliography for general audiences includes basic information, such as author, date and title of source.
• Add a book reference using the format: Author's last name, author's first name. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher Name, Year. Highlight the publication, and then place of publication and press "Ctrl-I" on the keyboard to italicize the words.
• Add a newspaper or magazine article reference using this format: Author Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Name of Publication. Date Published: Section and Page, Columns. Highlight the name of the publication, and then press "Ctrl-I" on the keyboard to italicize the words.
• Add a website reference using this format: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Page. Date. Name of organization or company. Date you accessed the page. www.website.com&gt ;. Highlight the organization, and then press "Ctrl-I" on the keyboard to italicize the words.
• Credit an image from the Internet using this bibliography format: Creator's Last Name, First Name. Description or Title of Image. Online Image. Date you accessed the image. www.website.com&gt ;. Highlight the description or image title, and then press "Ctrl-I" on the keyboard to italicize the words.

Insert Hyperlinks in the Bibliography

• Highlight a website cited in the bibliography. Click the "Insert" tab, then select "Hyperlink" from the Links group in the Ribbon.
• Click "Existing File or Web Page" in the Link To section, and then click "Browse the Web."
• Navigate to the website and click "OK."

Inserting Hyperlinks in a Slides

• Add a hyperlink from a slide that cites a source in the bibliography when you feel it is appropriate. Insert such a slide, for example, if you are directly quoting from the source, or are including statistics or charts from that source.
• Type a reference number in brackets, such as (1) and highlight the number. Click the "Insert" tab and select "Hyperlink" from the Links group. Select "Place in This Document" from the Link To menu.
• Select the bibliography slide containing the reference under the Select a Place in This Document section.
• Type the same number in brackets at the end of the reference. If desired, use these steps to create a hyperlink from this number back to the slide using the reference.
• Microsoft Office: Basic Tasks in PowerPoint 2010
• Microsoft Office: PowerPoint: Create a Hyperlink
• Cornell University: APA Citation Style
• Perdue University: MLA Formatting and Style Guide

A published author and professional speaker, David Weedmark has advised businesses and governments on technology, media and marketing for more than 20 years. He has taught computer science at Algonquin College, has started three successful businesses, and has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.

Bibliography: Definition and Examples

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

A bibliography is a list of works (such as books and articles) written on a particular subject or by a particular author. Adjective : bibliographic.

Also known as a list of works cited , a bibliography may appear at the end of a book, report , online presentation, or research paper . Students are taught that a bibliography, along with correctly formatted in-text citations, is crucial to properly citing one's research and to avoiding accusations of plagiarism . In formal research, all sources used, whether quoted directly or synopsized, should be included in the bibliography.

An annotated bibliography includes a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph (the annotation ) for each item in the list. These annotations often give more context about why a certain source may be useful or related to the topic at hand.

• Etymology:  From the Greek, "writing about books" ( biblio , "book", graph , "to write")
• Pronunciation:  bib-lee-OG-rah-fee

Examples and Observations

"Basic bibliographic information includes title, author or editor, publisher, and the year the current edition was published or copyrighted . Home librarians often like to keep track of when and where they acquired a book, the price, and a personal annotation, which would include their opinions of the book or of the person who gave it to them" (Patricia Jean Wagner, The Bloomsbury Review Booklover's Guide . Owaissa Communications, 1996)

Conventions for Documenting Sources

"It is standard practice in scholarly writing to include at the end of books or chapters and at the end of articles a list of the sources that the writer consulted or cited. Those lists, or bibliographies, often include sources that you will also want to consult. . . . "Established conventions for documenting sources vary from one academic discipline to another. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style of documentation is preferred in literature and languages. For papers in the social sciences the American Psychological Association (APA) style is preferred, whereas papers in history, philosophy, economics, political science, and business disciplines are formatted in the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) system. The Council of Biology Editors (CBE) recommends varying documentation styles for different natural sciences." (Robert DiYanni and Pat C. Hoy II, The Scribner Handbook for Writers , 3rd ed. Allyn and Bacon, 2001)

APA vs MLA Styles

There are several different styles of citations and bibliographies that you might encounter: MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and more. As described above, each of those styles is often associated with a particular segment of academia and research. Of these, the most widely used are APA and MLA styles. They both include similar information, but arranged and formatted differently.

"In an entry for a book in an APA-style works-cited list, the date (in parentheses) immediately follows the name of the author (whose first name is written only as an initial), just the first word of the title is capitalized, and the publisher's full name is generally provided.

APA Anderson, I. (2007). This is our music: Free jazz, the sixties, and American culture . Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

By contrast, in an MLA-style entry, the author's name appears as given in the work (normally in full), every important word of the title is capitalized, some words in the publisher's name are abbreviated, the publication date follows the publisher's name, and the medium of publication is recorded. . . . In both styles, the first line of the entry is flush with the left margin, and the second and subsequent lines are indented.

MLA Anderson, Iain. This Is Our Music: Free Jazz, the Sixties, and American Culture . Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania P, 2007. Print. The Arts and Intellectual Life in Mod. Amer.

( MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers , 7th ed. The Modern Language Association of America, 2009)

Finding Bibliographic Information for Online Sources

"For Web sources, some bibliographic information may not be available, but spend time looking for it before assuming that it doesn't exist. When information isn't available on the home page, you may have to drill into the site, following links to interior pages. Look especially for the author's name, the date of publication (or latest update), and the name of any sponsoring organization. Do not omit such information unless it is genuinely unavailable. . . . "Online articles and books sometimes include a DOI (digital object identifier). APA uses the DOI, when available, in place of a URL in reference list entries." (Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers, A Writer's Reference With Strategies for Online Learners , 7th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011)

• What Is an Annotated Bibliography?
• What Is a Glossary?
• What Is an Annotation in Reading, Research, and Linguistics?
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• Definition of Appendix in a Book or Written Work
• Meiosis (Rhetoric)
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• Definition and Examples of Science Writing

• Write an equation or formula Article
• Indent the first line of a paragraph Article
• Double-space the lines in a document Article
• Create a bibliography, citations, and references Article
• Insert footnotes and endnotes Article

Create a bibliography, citations, and references

Put your cursor at the end of the text you want to cite.

Go to References  >   Style , and choose a citation style.

Select Insert Citation .

Choose  Add New Source  and fill out the information about your source.

Once you've added a source to your list, you can cite it again:

Go to References  >  Insert Citation , and choose the source you are citing.

To add details, like page numbers if you're citing a book, select Citation Options , and then Edit Citation .

Create a bibliography

With cited sources in your document, you're ready to create a bibliography.

Put your cursor where you want the bibliography.

Go to References > Bibliography , and choose a format.

Tip:  If you cite a new source, add it to the bibliography by clicking anywhere in the bibliography and selecting Update Citations and Bibliography .

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Conference Presentation References

This page contains reference examples for works presented at conferences and meetings, including the following:

• Conference presentation
• Abstract of a conference presentation

1. Conference presentation

Evans, A. C., Jr., Garbarino, J., Bocanegra, E., Kinscherff, R. T., & Márquez-Greene, N. (2019, August 8–11). Gun violence: An event on the power of community [Conference presentation]. APA 2019 Convention, Chicago, IL, United States. https://convention.apa.org/2019-video

• Parenthetical citation : (Evans et al., 2019)
• Narrative citation : Evans et al. (2019)
• Provide the names of the presenters in the author element of the reference.
• Provide the full dates of the conference in the date element of the reference.
• Describe the presentation in square brackets after the title. The description is flexible (e.g., “[Conference session],” “[Paper presentation],” “[Poster session],” “[Keynote address]”).
• Provide the name of the conference or meeting and its location in the source element of the reference.
• If video of the conference presentation is available, include a link at the end of the reference.

2. Abstract of a conference presentation

Cacioppo, S. (2019, April 25–28). Evolutionary theory of social connections: Past, present, and future [Conference presentation abstract]. Ninety-ninth annual convention of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA, United States. https://westernpsych.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WPA-Program-2019-Final-2.pdf

• Parenthetical citation : (Cacioppo, 2019)
• Narrative citation : Cacioppo (2019)
• To cite only the abstract of a conference presentation, include the word “abstract” as part of the bracketed description (e.g., “[Conference presentation abstract]”).

Conference presentation references are covered in the seventh edition Publication Manual Section 10.5

How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper

Do not try to “wow” your instructor with a long bibliography when your instructor requests only a works cited page. It is tempting, after doing a lot of work to research a paper, to try to include summaries on each source as you write your paper so that your instructor appreciates how much work you did. That is a trap you want to avoid. MLA style, the one that is most commonly followed in high schools and university writing courses, dictates that you include only the works you actually cited in your paper—not all those that you used.

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• If your assignment calls for a bibliography, list all the sources you consulted in your research.
• If your assignment calls for a works cited or references page, include only the sources you quote, summarize, paraphrase, or mention in your paper.
• If your works cited page includes a source that you did not cite in your paper, delete it.
• All in-text citations that you used at the end of quotations, summaries, and paraphrases to credit others for their ideas,words, and work must be accompanied by a cited reference in the bibliography or works cited. These references must include specific information about the source so that your readers can identify precisely where the information came from.The citation entries on a works cited page typically include the author’s name, the name of the article, the name of the publication, the name of the publisher (for books), where it was published (for books), and when it was published.

The good news is that you do not have to memorize all the many ways the works cited entries should be written. Numerous helpful style guides are available to show you the information that should be included, in what order it should appear, and how to format it. The format often differs according to the style guide you are using. The Modern Language Association (MLA) follows a particular style that is a bit different from APA (American Psychological Association) style, and both are somewhat different from the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). Always ask your teacher which style you should use.

A bibliography usually appears at the end of a paper on its own separate page. All bibliography entries—books, periodicals, Web sites, and nontext sources such radio broadcasts—are listed together in alphabetical order. Books and articles are alphabetized by the author’s last name.

Most teachers suggest that you follow a standard style for listing different types of sources. If your teacher asks you to use a different form, however, follow his or her instructions. Take pride in your bibliography. It represents some of the most important work you’ve done for your research paper—and using proper form shows that you are a serious and careful researcher.

Bibliography Entry for a Book

A bibliography entry for a book begins with the author’s name, which is written in this order: last name, comma, first name, period. After the author’s name comes the title of the book. If you are handwriting your bibliography, underline each title. If you are working on a computer, put the book title in italicized type. Be sure to capitalize the words in the title correctly, exactly as they are written in the book itself. Following the title is the city where the book was published, followed by a colon, the name of the publisher, a comma, the date published, and a period. Here is an example:

Format : Author’s last name, first name. Book Title. Place of publication: publisher, date of publication.

• A book with one author : Hartz, Paula.  Abortion: A Doctor’s Perspective, a Woman’s Dilemma . New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1992.
• A book with two or more authors : Landis, Jean M. and Rita J. Simon.  Intelligence: Nature or Nurture?  New York: HarperCollins, 1998.

Bibliography Entry for a Periodical

A bibliography entry for a periodical differs slightly in form from a bibliography entry for a book. For a magazine article, start with the author’s last name first, followed by a comma, then the first name and a period. Next, write the title of the article in quotation marks, and include a period (or other closing punctuation) inside the closing quotation mark. The title of the magazine is next, underlined or in italic type, depending on whether you are handwriting or using a computer, followed by a period. The date and year, followed by a colon and the pages on which the article appeared, come last. Here is an example:

Format:  Author’s last name, first name. “Title of the Article.” Magazine. Month and year of publication: page numbers.

• Article in a monthly magazine : Crowley, J.E.,T.E. Levitan and R.P. Quinn.“Seven Deadly Half-Truths About Women.”  Psychology Today  March 1978: 94–106.
• Article in a weekly magazine : Schwartz, Felice N.“Management,Women, and the New Facts of Life.”  Newsweek  20 July 2006: 21–22.
• Signed newspaper article : Ferraro, Susan. “In-law and Order: Finding Relative Calm.”  The Daily News  30 June 1998: 73.
• Unsigned newspaper article : “Beanie Babies May Be a Rotten Nest Egg.”  Chicago Tribune  21 June 2004: 12.

Bibliography Entry for a Web Site

For sources such as Web sites include the information a reader needs to find the source or to know where and when you found it. Always begin with the last name of the author, broadcaster, person you interviewed, and so on. Here is an example of a bibliography for a Web site:

Format : Author.“Document Title.” Publication or Web site title. Date of publication. Date of access.

Example : Dodman, Dr. Nicholas. “Dog-Human Communication.”  Pet Place . 10 November 2006.  23 January 2014 < http://www.petplace.com/dogs/dog-human-communication-2/page1.aspx >

After completing the bibliography you can breathe a huge sigh of relief and pat yourself on the back. You probably plan to turn in your work in printed or handwritten form, but you also may be making an oral presentation. However you plan to present your paper, do your best to show it in its best light. You’ve put a great deal of work and thought into this assignment, so you want your paper to look and sound its best. You’ve completed your research paper!

Back to  How To Write A Research Paper .

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Types of Documentation

Bibliographies and Source Lists

What is a bibliography.

A bibliography is a list of books and other source material that you have used in preparing a research paper. Sometimes these lists will include works that you consulted but did not cite specifically in your assignment. Consult the style guide required for your assignment to determine the specific title of your bibliography page as well as how to cite each source type. Bibliographies are usually placed at the end of your research paper.

What is an annotated bibliography?

A special kind of bibliography, the annotated bibliography, is often used to direct your readers to other books and resources on your topic. An instructor may ask you to prepare an annotated bibliography to help you narrow down a topic for your research assignment. Such bibliographies offer a few lines of information, typically 150-300 words, summarizing the content of the resource after the bibliographic entry.   

Example of Annotated Bibliographic Entry in MLA Style

Waddell, Marie L., Robert M. Esch, and Roberta R. Walker. The Art of Styling         Sentences: 20 Patterns for Success. 3rd ed. New York: Barron’s, 1993.         A comprehensive look at 20 sentence patterns and their variations to         teach students how to write effective sentences by imitating good style.

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Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

Introduction

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

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What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources used for researching a topic. Each source is briefly summarized and evaluated.

Why Write an Annotated Bibliography?

Annotated bibliographies provide an opportunity for you to learn more about your research topic, assess and evaluate sources, and discuss the ways in which each source contributes to the larger context of your paper.

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography:

Writing an annotated bibliography begins with research and reading.

• Use the library catalog, databases, and other resources to find books, articles, and websites that are relevant to your research topic.
• Ask a librarian for help if you need it.
• Take careful notes over each source as you read it. Highlight important concepts, terms, and ideas. Write notes and questions in the margin.
• Write a brief summary of the source. What is its main point? How does it support that main point?
• Write a description of the source’s relevance to your topic and its quality. Will the source help you write your paper? Why or why not? Is the source credible? Why or why not?
• After you have found all the sources you need to write your paper AND taken good notes over each of them, then you can begin to write the annotated bibliography.
• A works cited entry (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
• A descriptive paragraph that tells the reader the author and title of the source and briefly summarizes the source’s content
• An evaluative paragraph that explains  why the source is relevant to your topic or research question, why the source is credible, and how and why you will use the source in your paper.
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• What Is an Annotated Bibliography? | Examples & Format

What Is an Annotated Bibliography? | Examples & Format

Published on March 9, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on August 23, 2022.

An annotated bibliography is a list of source references that includes a short descriptive text (an annotation) for each source. It may be assigned as part of the research process for a paper , or as an individual assignment to gather and read relevant sources on a topic.

Scribbr’s free Citation Generator allows you to easily create and manage your annotated bibliography in APA or MLA style. To generate a perfectly formatted annotated bibliography, select the source type, fill out the relevant fields, and add your annotation.

An example of an annotated source is shown below:

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Table of contents

Annotated bibliography format: apa, mla, chicago, how to write an annotated bibliography, descriptive annotation example, evaluative annotation example, reflective annotation example, finding sources for your annotated bibliography, frequently asked questions about annotated bibliographies.

Make sure your annotated bibliography is formatted according to the guidelines of the style guide you’re working with. Three common styles are covered below:

In APA Style , both the reference entry and the annotation should be double-spaced and left-aligned.

The reference entry itself should have a hanging indent . The annotation follows on the next line, and the whole annotation should be indented to match the hanging indent. The first line of any additional paragraphs should be indented an additional time.

In an MLA style annotated bibliography , the Works Cited entry and the annotation are both double-spaced and left-aligned.

The Works Cited entry has a hanging indent. The annotation itself is indented 1 inch (twice as far as the hanging indent). If there are two or more paragraphs in the annotation, the first line of each paragraph is indented an additional half-inch, but not if there is only one paragraph.

Chicago style

In a  Chicago style annotated bibliography , the bibliography entry itself should be single-spaced and feature a hanging indent.

The annotation should be indented, double-spaced, and left-aligned. The first line of any additional paragraphs should be indented an additional time.

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For each source, start by writing (or generating ) a full reference entry that gives the author, title, date, and other information. The annotated bibliography format varies based on the citation style you’re using.

The annotations themselves are usually between 50 and 200 words in length, typically formatted as a single paragraph. This can vary depending on the word count of the assignment, the relative length and importance of different sources, and the number of sources you include.

Consider the instructions you’ve been given or consult your instructor to determine what kind of annotations they’re looking for:

• Descriptive annotations : When the assignment is just about gathering and summarizing information, focus on the key arguments and methods of each source.
• Evaluative annotations : When the assignment is about evaluating the sources , you should also assess the validity and effectiveness of these arguments and methods.
• Reflective annotations : When the assignment is part of a larger research process, you need to consider the relevance and usefulness of the sources to your own research.

These specific terms won’t necessarily be used. The important thing is to understand the purpose of your assignment and pick the approach that matches it best. Interactive examples of the different styles of annotation are shown below.

A descriptive annotation summarizes the approach and arguments of a source in an objective way, without attempting to assess their validity.

In this way, it resembles an abstract , but you should never just copy text from a source’s abstract, as this would be considered plagiarism . You’ll naturally cover similar ground, but you should also consider whether the abstract omits any important points from the full text.

The interactive example shown below describes an article about the relationship between business regulations and CO 2 emissions.

Rieger, A. (2019). Doing business and increasing emissions? An exploratory analysis of the impact of business regulation on CO 2 emissions. Human Ecology Review , 25 (1), 69–86. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26964340

An evaluative annotation also describes the content of a source, but it goes on to evaluate elements like the validity of the source’s arguments and the appropriateness of its methods .

For example, the following annotation describes, and evaluates the effectiveness of, a book about the history of Western philosophy.

Kenny, A. (2010). A new history of Western philosophy: In four parts . Oxford University Press.

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A reflective annotation is similar to an evaluative one, but it focuses on the source’s usefulness or relevance to your own research.

Reflective annotations are often required when the point is to gather sources for a future research project, or to assess how they were used in a project you already completed.

The annotation below assesses the usefulness of a particular article for the author’s own research in the field of media studies.

Manovich, Lev. (2009). The practice of everyday (media) life: From mass consumption to mass cultural production? Critical Inquiry , 35 (2), 319–331. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/596645

Manovich’s article assesses the shift from a consumption-based media culture (in which media content is produced by a small number of professionals and consumed by a mass audience) to a production-based media culture (in which this mass audience is just as active in producing content as in consuming it). He is skeptical of some of the claims made about this cultural shift; specifically, he argues that the shift towards user-made content must be regarded as more reliant upon commercial media production than it is typically acknowledged to be. However, he regards web 2.0 as an exciting ongoing development for art and media production, citing its innovation and unpredictability.

The article is outdated in certain ways (it dates from 2009, before the launch of Instagram, to give just one example). Nevertheless, its critical engagement with the possibilities opened up for media production by the growth of social media is valuable in a general sense, and its conceptualization of these changes frequently applies just as well to more current social media platforms as it does to Myspace. Conceptually, I intend to draw on this article in my own analysis of the social dynamics of Twitter and Instagram.

Before you can write your annotations, you’ll need to find sources . If the annotated bibliography is part of the research process for a paper, your sources will be those you consult and cite as you prepare the paper. Otherwise, your assignment and your choice of topic will guide you in what kind of sources to look for.

Make sure that you’ve clearly defined your topic , and then consider what keywords are relevant to it, including variants of the terms. Use these keywords to search databases (e.g., Google Scholar ), using Boolean operators to refine your search.

Sources can include journal articles, books, and other source types , depending on the scope of the assignment. Read the abstracts or blurbs of the sources you find to see whether they’re relevant, and try exploring their bibliographies to discover more. If a particular source keeps showing up, it’s probably important.

Once you’ve selected an appropriate range of sources, read through them, taking notes that you can use to build up your annotations. You may even prefer to write your annotations as you go, while each source is fresh in your mind.

An annotated bibliography is an assignment where you collect sources on a specific topic and write an annotation for each source. An annotation is a short text that describes and sometimes evaluates the source.

Any credible sources on your topic can be included in an annotated bibliography . The exact sources you cover will vary depending on the assignment, but you should usually focus on collecting journal articles and scholarly books . When in doubt, utilize the CRAAP test !

Each annotation in an annotated bibliography is usually between 50 and 200 words long. Longer annotations may be divided into paragraphs .

The content of the annotation varies according to your assignment. An annotation can be descriptive, meaning it just describes the source objectively; evaluative, meaning it assesses its usefulness; or reflective, meaning it explains how the source will be used in your own research .

A source annotation in an annotated bibliography fulfills a similar purpose to an abstract : they’re both intended to summarize the approach and key points of a source.

However, an annotation may also evaluate the source , discussing the validity and effectiveness of its arguments. Even if your annotation is purely descriptive , you may have a different perspective on the source from the author and highlight different key points.

You should never just copy text from the abstract for your annotation, as doing so constitutes plagiarism .

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Caulfield, J. (2022, August 23). What Is an Annotated Bibliography? | Examples & Format. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/annotated-bibliography/

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