Skip to Main Content
NAU Cline Library logo

A Guide to Comparative Cultural Studies and Humanities Research: Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliographies: Purdue Owl

How is an annotation different from an abstract?

Abstract = Summary 

Annotation = Summary + Discussion

Before you write your annotation, consider:

  • What topics are covered?
  • What are the main arguments?
  • Who is the audience?
  • What is the purpose?
  • Do you find any evidence of bias?

Annotated Bibliography/Discipline Discourse

For the annotated bibliography you will list the sources you’ve found at this point for your final paper. Include sources you’ve read and sources you have not (15 sources required, minimum of 8 annotations). For the sources you’ve read include:

  • a brief summary of the material (2-3 sentences)
  • a description of how this source will help your final argument (3-5 sentences)
  • a description of why this source and this material are meaningful sources for your disciplinary audience (2-3 sentences).

 
Annotations should be useful to the student and their goals for the final deliberative essay. Organize the paper by subheadings you expect to use in your final paper. Use APA/MLA to cite your sources. (Purdue OWL - https://owl.english.purdue.edu/)
 
For the Discipline Discourse you will reflect on ALL citations. This portion should be 1-2 paragraphs where you reflect on the cultural context of the sources you’ve gathered to understand their credibility in relation to your larger argument. This should include:  

  • Summarizing your project as you envisioned it before the Annotated Bibliography
  • Summarizing what you noticed about how researchers discuss your issue and how that influences how you will discuss your issue
  • Reflecting on overall organization, how did you envision organizing your project, and how do you now envision organizing your project
  • Providing an explanation of where you see your ideas fitting in