Annotated Bibliography

Write an Annotated Bibliography

A. Format:

Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Pub-
   lisher, year.
        Two sentences about the book, written in paragraph form.

B. Tips for organizing:

1. Arrange your 5 books in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.

2. For each book, write a bibliographic entry.
Last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Pub-
   lisher, year.
        Two sentences about the book, written in paragraph form.

3. Make sure that if you go to a second line for an entry that you start 3 spaces in the from the left margin. Write your annotation in paragraph form.

4. Don’t double-space an entry.
    Double-space between entries.
    Don’t number entries.

C. Tips for collecting information:

Write a one-sentence summary of a picture book.
1. Collect information:
        a. approximate age of main character
        b. name of main character
        c. the setting of the story (time and place)
        d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write.
        E.g. Young Bob, wanting an adventure, runs
            away from his country home and visits
            a nearby city.
        E.g. Two young boys meet and make friends
               in this simple picture book with hardly
               any words at all.
Give your opinion.
1. Determine the purpose of the illustrations:
        a. to enhance the mood
        b. to evoke emotions
        c. provide information
        d. tell the story without words
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
        a. young children who will look at the pictures
            while an adult reads
        b. older students who are doing research
        c. all ages because of the emotional appeal

Write a one-sentence summary of a nonfiction book.
1. Collect information:
        a. main topic
        b. main subtopics
        c. a few interesting details
        d. the author’s credentials
2. Use simple present tense to write.
Give your opinion of the nonfiction book.
1. Observe the style of writing:
    a. length of sentences
    b. figures of speech
    c. size of font and margins
    d. intended audience
2. Observe the additional features:
    a. index
    b. glossary
    c. list of websites

Write a one-sentence summary of a novel.
1. Collect information:
a. approximate age of main character
b. name of main character
c. the setting of the story (time and place)
d. what happens
2. Use simple present tense to write.
Give your opinion.
1. Consider…
a. the mood
b. the theme
c. the genre (mystery, adventure…)
d. the author’s credentials
2. Determine the most suitable audience:
a. elementary, middle or high school students
b. boys or girls or either

D. Tips for writing annotations:

Write Annotations
1. For the picture book, write two sentences:
    a. a summary of the story
    b. your opinion as to why the picture book format is effective

2. For the nonfiction books, write two sentences:
    a. a summary of the information
    b. an observation about the style of writing

3. For the fiction books, write two sentences:
    a. a summary of the story
    b. your opinion as to who would enjoy the novel

 

Examples of Annotations

This beautifully illustrated poem by a well-known author is an adaptation of Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poem, ‘Pied Beauty. The collage-and-paint pictures joyously reflect the miraculous wonders of nature and would be appreciated by readers of any age.

This short illustrated book for elementary and middle school students describes different types of turtles and how to choose and care for a pet; the end of the book includes a glossary, index and list of websites.  The style of writing is factual in a friendly manner as if speaking to the reader: “It is also important to remember that turtles can live a long time. So when you get a pet turtle you are making a big commitment” (9).

A teenage boy from a wealthy home, volunteering in a poor area of Vancouver, B.C. in order to meet high school graduation requirements, meets a homeless soldier and learns about the world beyond his protected neighbourhood.  Young adults ready to learn about the challenges faced by victims of war will appreciate this novel based on the massacre in Rwanda.

[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2013 Sophie Rosen.]

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