An important part of research is creating accurate citations, references, and bibliographies.
Creating an annotated bibliography can help prepare you to write a strong research paper. An annotated bibliography is a list of sources (like a bibliography), where each source is followed by a short summary and/or evaluation (the annotation). Writing the annotations requires you to read for comprehension and critically examine how each source meets your research needs.
Annotations can take a variety of forms, but most contain three key components: a summary, an evaluation, and a reflection.
Your annotated bibliography may contain only some of these components or may include additional information. Ask your professor what they expect if you're writing an annotated bibliography for class.
In an annotated bibliography, each source is examined independently. When you write a research paper, you need to weave together and combine these sources with your own thoughts to form a cohesive argument. This is called information synthesis.
Reading peer-reviewed articles can be challenging. They are typically written by scholars, for scholars, and assume a high level of understanding from readers. Making annotations as you read can help with comprehension.