Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources that summarizes and explains the relevance of each source to your research.

Use it at the beginning of the research process to:

• Record the sources you have found.
• Demonstrate your understanding of your sources.
• Analyze the quality and credibility of your sources.
• Identify patterns and themes among and across different sources.
• Reflect on the possible ways you will use your sources as you integrate them into your paper.
• Develop a thesis or argument.

An annotated bibliography is often assigned as a step in writing a research paper.

The University of Toronto provides a detailed explainer: