A Guide to Writing Annotated Bibliography in APA and MLA Format

Following the correct annotated bibliography formats when crafting academic papers such as dissertations and research papers is a tough job. The annotations you use in your work reflect the scope and significance of your research project and act as a roadmap for your work, which can be skimmed. You need to pay attention to a lot of factors when referencing your papers, such as the aim of your research, the directions of your instructor, and the possible use of the sources.

Since the accurate formatting of the papers is a sensitive and significant issue, students need to be extra careful during the process. A minor mistake can cause a loss of grades. To avoid any such mishap, you should get timely assistance from a professional dissertation editor who knows the right way to follow annotated bibliography formats. 

This article explores the correct ways to follow an accurate annotated bibliography format in your work. Let’s dive into the details, but we shall start with the definition of a bibliography first. 

What is an Annotated Bibliography? 

As per the definition by the University of Nevada, an annotated bibliography is a list of citations referring to different articles, books, and other prestigious sources on a given topic. Apparently, it looks more like a References page but contains an annotation for each source that is cited in the work. 

In simple words, you can refer to an annotation as a critical evaluation or short summary of the sources you use in your work. Annotated bibliographies are usually an important part of large research projects and can act as standalone reports as well. 

How to Write Annotated Bibliography in APA Format? Examples Included

The first step to creating your annotated bibliography APA citation style is knowing exactly what you want to tell your instructor about the sources you have used in your work. You can either choose to provide them with an evaluation, a summary, or a brief reflection of each source. 

Although you will be provided with guidelines by your professor, generally, you will have to look for the following aspects of your work: 

• A brief overview of the information described in the source
• An analysis of the authority of the source
• A description of what value your work provides to your research field

The entire length of your annotated bibliography format usually depends on the guidelines of your instructor, but generally, it is no more than 300 words. 

As per the instructions and rules of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.), you will have to follow these guidelines when writing an annotated bibliography format in the APA style: 

1. Keep the reference list and the text double-spaced. 
2. The numbering of the pages shall be mentioned on the top right of the pages, and it starts from the title page. 
3. The entries in the reference list must have hanging indents. 
4. You will have to give a 1-inch margin from the bottom, top, left, and right corners of the pages. 
5. For your work, you will use a Serif font or Times New Roman. Use the size as specified by your instructor. 
6. Keep each paragraph of your work indented. 

If the instructions are still unclear and you need further assistance with your work, you should ask for dissertation editing help online from professional service providers. 

Example: 

Here is an annotated bibliography sample from Bibliography that shows how a page formatted in APA style looks like: 

Annotated Bibliography Format Example in APA Style

Here is a sample of the APA annotated bibliography format taken by Felician University Library, which explains how you should craft this page in the best possible way: 

How to Write Annotated Bibliography in MLA Format? Examples Included

Adhering to an annotated bibliography format in MLA style can be a tricky web to weave, so we are here to help. Before moving to the examples and samples of MLA formatted papers, here are a few guidelines that you must follow during the process: 

1. In the 8th edition of the MLA handbook, there are no specific guidelines for quotations, so if you have included quotes in your work, try to keep them as short as possible. 
2. For the citations, ensure that you use hanging indents. 
3. Start the first line from the left margin and the consecutive lines should be indented at 5 spaces. 
4. When adding an annotation, indent the starting of it. 
5. Keep the annotation shorter than 300 words. 
6. The title of the page should be mentioned as “Annotated List of Works Cited” or “Annotated Bibliography.”
7. Ensure to add double spaces in your annotated bibliography format for the MLA style. 

The nature of the citations varies depending on the type of source you are citing in your work. That is to say, the format that has to be followed for writing a book is going to be different from that of a magazine. 

Example: 

The following image by Bibliography shows you what your MLA-style paper looks like when you follow an annotated bibliography format to enlist your sources: 

Annotated Bibliography Format Example in MLA Style

Here is an example of MLA annotated bibliography format taken from IRSC Libraries that you can read and review to know how to craft this part of your work in the best way: 

Conclusion

We have discussed the annotated bibliography formats in both APA and MLA styles. Regardless of the style you choose, your bibliography shall provide the readers with a concise description of the sources you have used in your work. All that you need to do is follow the rules when it comes to formatting your academic papers. It is necessary because when you do not pay attention to it, you end up losing your marks. 

In case you need help with the formatting of your papers, you should avail of dissertation editing services for timely assistance. The editing team of such platforms can format and reference your dissertations and other academic projects in the way you want and assist you in achieving your academic goals.