Information may include the following:

• AUTHOR:  what are his/her qualifications, experience and background to write on the topic: "Based on a ten year study conducted at XYZ University, Drs. Z. and D…."

• AUDIENCE:  to whom is the article/book addressed:  teachers, administrators, scholars, students: "This review will be appreciated by scholars in the field of…"
  
  

• SOURCE:  is the information used in the article based on new research or a review of studies previously done: "The authors….use data from the NES to support their hypothesis…."
  
  

•  BIAS: what is the authors’ viewpoint: "The author has chosen to explore in depth some little known historical aspects…."
  
  

• SPECIAL FEATURES: does the work have exceptional illustrations, extensive indexing, testing devices, maps, etc., that particularly enhance the article/book?
  
  

• FINDINGS, RESULTS : Are the author’s conclusions justified based on the research?
  
  

The following two examples use the APA (American Psychological Association) format for a journal citation and a magazine citation:*

Doe, J. T. and Williams, W. R. (1996). Parental supervision of television viewing and 
      aggressive behavior in children. Journal of Television and Violence 51, 534-540.

The authors, researchers at Western State College, collected data from a group of 8-year-olds to test their hypothesis that the amount of violence children saw on television relates to the aggressiveness of their behavior. They found that children who were allowed to watch evening police dramas and "made for TV" specials with abusive situations demonstrated increased aggressive behavior over children who were not permitted to watch these programs. The researchers did not find a connection between aggression in children and television violence as displayed in cartoons and news programs. The article by Doe and Williams is one of the few studies that examines aggressive behavior as it relates to different types of television programs.

Quayle, D. (1997, June) Marijuana: no medicinal value. Reefer Madness Monthly, 8-10.

According to Quayle, president of "Just Say No To Drugs," scientific evidence proves that marijuana is not effective for medicinal use. He states that his claim is based on results of a survey conducted by his organization. Public opinion supports his position that marijuana should continue to be banned. The author does not provide references for the survey and for his statement on public opinion. Quayle's article is an editorial expressing his views and those of his organization and does not contribute any documented information to the literature on this controversial subject.

The following two examples are of  MLA citations for an article from Art Abstracts and an article found in the print collection.

Lukkas, Lynn Tjernan.  "Oculus: crossing Boundaries in Cyberspace, Art, and  
      Consciousness."  Art Journal, Winter 2000.  Academic Search Elite EBSCO. 
      Cook Lib., Towson University, Towson, 8 February 2003. 

The project is described as "....an on-going series of digital and interactive works of art--performances, interactive installations, digital Iris prints, and a dedicated website with live webcam transmissions--that explore the merging of body and technology and its possible effects on consciousness and the self." From Iceland to Vietnam,  Dr. Lukkas has traveled and recorded sounds and images from her visits using GPS to exactly pinpoint her position.  

Che, Cathay.  "Avant Garage." Advocate, 13 Feb. 2001: 831.

Reviews a new project (2001) that highlights work done by the late Keith Haring and the influence the Paradise Garage had on his work. Included in the article of two pieces of his artwork.

*Adapted from :

Savage Library. (1999, November) How to prepare an annotated bibliography.
          Western State College of  Colorado. Retrieved April 18, 2000 from the 
          World Wide web:   http://www.western.edu/lib/instruction/bibliography.html      

Additional Resources

Many college libraries and writing centers have preparation guides to annotated 
bibliographies – here are just a few websites:

Memorial University of Newfoundland Libraries

James A. Gibson Library Brock University

University of Minnesota - Crookston

Connelly Library, LaSalle University

Albert S. Cook Library
Towson University
3/05/03
Mary Ranadive