Annotated Bibliography Examples
The body of an annotated bibliography is the same from style to style – except for that contrarian CSE. The difference lies in the top. As there are nuances to each style’s bibliography citation – where you place the author’s name, article title, publication info, yadda, yadda – that same format is used at the top of annotated bibliography citations.
CSE, however, wants the body to be written with a summary followed by an evaluation. Oh, those rascally scientists.
Shall we tiptoe through examples of annotated citations? Why not?
Here we have a book citation in APA formatting.
Jackson, P, and Delehanty, H. (1995). Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior (First paperback). New York: Hyperion.
Evolving his unique philosophy from Zen and Native American principles, teaching selflessness, awareness, respect, Phil Jackson coached Chicago Bulls’ millionaire basketball players to four championships by 1996 (two more after this book’s publication). Hundreds of celebrities, like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Pat Riley, Vince Lombardi, enliven these pages. Saluting Michael Jordan’s artistry, Jackson titles one chapter “Coaching Michelangelo.” Easy reading, humor, candor, concentrated wisdom mark this brief book. A good guide for everyday life.
That was fun. Let’s look at an MLA citation for a magazine.
McGovern, George S., and William Roe Polk. "The Way Out Of War: A Blueprint for Leaving Iraq Now." Harper’s Magazine Oct. 2006. McGovern, a U.S. senator from 1963 to 1981 who unsuccessfully ran for president against Richard Nixon, and Middle East scholar Polk offer a prescription to end an unpopular war, discourage terrorists, save lives and big money, and pay Iraqis to build what they want. The authors compare U.S. war costs ($10 million per hour) with restoring Iraq’s entire infrastructure ($500 million or what the U.S. spends in two days waging war). The blueprint covers what the United States should do about its exit from Iraq, military bases, embassy, prisoners, mercenaries, land mines, Iraqi cultural sites and oil, Halliburton, international police, U.S. war veterans and condolences to Iraqis. This article is thought provoking and well written.
Moving on, we come to that most wonderful and a bit daunting Chicago style. It has two tweaks to its style, humanities and scientific. Lucky you get to see both. First, the crowd-favorite Humanities for a newspaper article.
Human, Katy. “Health Panel Eyes 5th Option.” Denver Post, September 11, 2007. A1, A18.
Colorado’s diverse twenty-seven-member health-care reform commission is tortuously evolving Plan Five requiring “individual mandates” for residents to carry health insurance or pay tax penalties; Colorado insurance companies to accept sick applicants and offer several low-cost plans with $50,000-benefit caps. Created by the legislature last year to seek affordable health care with insurance covering many of Colorado’s 790,000 uninsured residents, the commission now must compare costs and benefits of its five plans and recommend one by this coming January. Their varied choices range from a single nonprofit insurance program to this proposal, likened to the “Massachusetts Plan” launched last spring. Workings of the “Massachusetts Plan” would add insight.
And how does Katy Human’s story look Chicago Scientific-ally?
Human K. 2007 September 11. Health Panel Eyes 5th Option. Denver Post:Sect A1, A18.
Colorado’s diverse twenty-seven-member health-care reform commission is tortuously evolving Plan Five requiring “individual mandates” for residents to carry health insurance or pay tax penalties; Colorado insurance companies to accept sick applicants and offer several low-cost plans with $50,000-benefit caps. Created by the legislature last year to seek affordable health care with insurance covering many of Colorado’s 790,000 uninsured residents, the commission now must compare costs and benefits of its five plans and recommend one by this coming January. Their varied choices range from a single nonprofit insurance program to this proposal, likened to the “Massachusetts Plan” launched last spring. Workings of the “Massachusetts Plan” would add insight.
Let’s talk Turabian. Like Chicago style, it lets you choose between Humanities and Scientific. Here’s a Humanities entry.
Stuart, Rory. "Rhythmic Devices in a Harmonic Context." International Association of Jazz Educators International Conference. Hilton Hotel, New York. 12 January 2007.
While this lecture dealt with cross-rhythms, rhythmic superimposition, metric/feel modulation, odd and changing meters, it was not for drummers-only. The clinic showed anyone who plays pitched instruments how to practice and apply these within the context of structured harmony (song form). Stuart was an engaging lecturer who made his subject informative and interesting.
And Scientific, if you’ll please.
Stuart, Rory. 2007. "Rhythmic Devices in a Harmonic Context." International Association of Jazz Educators International Conference. Hilton Hotel, New York. 12 January.
While this lecture dealt with cross-rhythms, rhythmic superimposition, metric/feel modulation, odd and changing meters, it was not for drummers-only. The clinic showed anyone who plays pitched instruments how to practice and apply these within the context of structured harmony (song form). Stuart was an engaging lecturer who made his subject informative and interesting.
Which leaves us with the pesky CSE with its summary and evaluation.
Goldstein MS. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among California Adults With or Without Cancer. The Journal and Oxford University Press 2(4):557-565.
Summary: This ambitious study examines use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM ) by 9,187 diverse California adults. CAM includes 11 provider types (chiropractors, etc.), plus non-provider resources (supplements, diets, mind-body techniques, prayer, support groups, etc). Following up a previous survey, the authors conclude from computer-assisted telephone interviews, improbably averaging 14.1 minutes, CAM use in California is high. Health status, gender, ethnicity, income, education, and age independently impact CAM use. Health insurance is irrelevant; health status is key. California’s openness to CAM may presage greater national receptivity.
Evaluation: The authors acknowledge the study’s limitations. Narrower parameters could have improved it. Longer interviews would have given the study more legitimacy.
And there you have. Carmun wishes it could write your annotation, but, alas, some tasks must be left to you. We will however format all your citations.
