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Subject Guide: Social Work

Help with citing sources

Annotated Bibliography

Writing an annotated bibliography can help readers learn more about a topic. An annotated bibliography can be a stand alone publication. You describe, evaluate, and explain why a title is on your list and the relationship to the topic. 


1. Start by harvesting citations from article and database sites. Many databases offer the feature of supplying a citation. Look for an icon with a single "quote" 

2. Tell the audience what role the citation plays in explaining the topic (i.e. background, evidence, theoretical, critical... )

3. You may want to see if a chosen work has been reviewed by scholars.

4. You may want to see if the work has been well cited by other scholars.

5. You may wish to review the bias-free language tips from American Psychological Association (APA).