MUSI 3010: Studies in Early Modern Music

Anatomy of an Annotated Bibliography

What it is…

An annotated bibliography is a list of books, journal articles, or other resources that includes descriptive and evaluative comments.  These comments are known as annotations. 

What it contains…

A citation (in the bibliographic format your professor requests such as MLA, APA, Chicago, etc…) AND an annotation that is usually 100-200 words in length. 

Why it is valuable…

When you research, you read a lot of material.  Annotated bibliographies help make sense of all of the material that you see, hear, and read.  Think of them as sticky notes to yourself about your impressions and what does or does not make sense. 

Let’s break it down…

Citation:

Tracy W McGregor Library American History Collection and McGregor Fund. Good Newes From Virginia: Sent From Iames His Towne This Present Moneth of March, 1623 by a Gentleman In That Country. Printed at London: For Iohn Trundle, 1624.

(What type of source is this? Is there more detail about the source type that is relevant?) This source is a ballad to the tune of “All Those That Be Goode Fellowes.”  Printed in 1624, it serves as an early example of an American broadside despite having been printed in London.  It is considered to be an American broadside due to its similarities both visually and content-wise to other American broadsides from the 17th and 18th centuries and because of its subject matter: Jamestown, Virginia. (What is the source about? This should be brief yet informative.) The ballad details the brutal living conditions of the Virginia Company complete with farming mishaps and run-ins with the local Powhatan Indians who attacked Jamestown in 1622. (What is the tone or feeling of the source? What purpose does the source serve?) It is sardonic yet hopeful in tone. It can be seen as trying to convince the best of England to join the Virginia Company in order to improve conditions in Jamestown. (How might this source serve your research?) This source would serve as a helpful example of how broadsides were used as a means to persuade as well as inform.      

Good Questions to Address in Your Annotations…

• What type of source is this?
• What are the qualifications of the author(s)?
• What is the source about?
• What is the feeling or tone of the source?  Is there an ‘agenda’ to the source? 
• What are your overall thoughts about the source?
• How might this source be useful to your research? 

Important Things to Keep in Mind…

• An annotation is different from an abstract.  Abstracts serve only to summarize.  Annotations, on the other hand, serve to offer critical description and perspective.
• Likewise, annotated bibliographies are different from literature reviews.  Your professor may ask you to use your annotated bibliography to create a literature review at some point; however, they are two different things. 
• Your annotated bibliography can be an invaluable resource—put in the time and effort into reading and evaluating your sources.