Page 69 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

In the above example, you can see the full citation of the
source (author, title, journal, volume, and page numbers)
along with a brief annotation that summarises the main points
of the article and explains its relevance to the research topic.
This is called an Annotated Bibliography. The annotation
provides key points from the article and explains why it
is relevant to your research. An annotated bibliography is
a compilation of sources, each accompanied by a concise
Method summary or evaluation that explains the source's relevance
and content. It helps readers understand the usefulness
and credibility of each source and includes books, journal
articles, and documents in the list of citations. Each citation
is usually followed by a brief description of the text and,
more importantly, a critical evaluation. This is often referred
to as the annotation and should be between 100-200 words
per citation, as detailed in your assignment brief.

The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to highlight the
importance, accuracy, and credibility of each cited source. An
annotated bibliography may be assigned to demonstrate your
ability to choose sources relevant to your assignment topic. It
Purpose can also be used independently to identify key readings that
support your understanding of a topic, which can be drawn
upon when completing your summative assessment. Writing
an annotated bibliography will be beneficial in gaining skills
in organising data and developing a critical stance regarding
published literature.

The following information will need to be included in the
annotation for each source:

1. Summary – what is it about?

a. What is the author’s purpose, aim or research
question?

b. What is the main argument, finding or
conclusion?

2. Evaluation – what do you think about the text?

a. Who is it written for? (e.g. the general public,
health professionals, academic staff?)

b. What do you think are the main strengths?

c. Are there any weaknesses or flaws with the
research?

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 63