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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.
Creating
an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety
of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis,
and informed library research.
First,
locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents
that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. Briefly
examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that
provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.
Cite
the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.
Write
a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope
of the book or article. Include one or more sentences that (a)
evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment
on the intended audience, (c) compare or contrast this work with
another you have cited, or (d) explain how this work illuminates
your bibliography topic.
The
following example uses the APA format for the journal citation:
Goldschneider,
F. K., Waite, L. J., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living
and
the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults.
American Sociological Review, 51, 541-554.
The
authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University,
use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women
and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by
young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations,
moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They
find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while
the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the
time away from parents before marrying increased individualism,
self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In
contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant
gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily
living.
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