Video summary

What is an Annotated Bibliography

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

  • An annotated bibliography is an assignment where you compile a list of sources you plan to use in a research project, with notes (“annotations”) for each source.
  • The process is manageable: for each source, you cite it, summarize it, and evaluate it—those steps together form one entry.
  • Although it may feel tedious, annotated bibliographies save time long-term and help you remember and organize sources, reducing the need to repeatedly reread them.
  • The video emphasizes that memory is unreliable, so keeping structured notes is beneficial.

Structure of each annotated bibliography entry (3 required parts)

1) Citation

  • Serves as the “header” for the entry.
  • Must be properly formatted according to a required style guide such as MLA, APA, or similar.
  • Does not count to paste just a title or a web address without proper citation formatting.
  • Guidance/tools mentioned:
    • Ask a librarian (online or in-person).
    • Use NoodleTools (SCC’s online citation tool) to help create annotations and notecards.

2) Summary

  • A brief restatement of the source’s main ideas, written in your own words.
  • Length guidance: 1–3 sentences.
  • Must be neutral: summarize what the source is about, not your opinion.
  • Must avoid copying the source’s phrasing or sentence structure.

3) Evaluation

  • Where you include your opinions, but specifically:
    • Your opinions about what the source is good for in relation to your project.
  • Not a long essay—just answer a few suggested questions (the instructor may provide suggestions).

Methodology / step-by-step instructions included

For each required source (repeat for 6, 10, or as many as your instructor requires):

  1. Step 1: Find a source
  2. Step 2: Cite it using the required citation format (MLA/APA/etc.)
  3. Step 3: Write a summary
    • 1–3 sentences
    • in your own words
    • neutral perspective
  4. Step 4: Write an evaluation
    • concise
    • explain what the source is useful for in your project
  5. Step 5: Combine the citation + summary + evaluation into one entry

Goal: compile all entries into your annotated bibliography.

Conclusion / recap points

  • Annotated bibliographies are lists of planned research sources.
  • Each source has its own entry with:
    • citation
    • summary (neutral, brief, your words)
    • evaluation (your opinion of relevance/utility)
  • Though time-consuming, they help you work more efficiently and improve the quality of your project.
  • Encouragement to get help from SCC’s Library.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: Unnamed narrator/teacher (no personal name given).
  • Institutions / tools referenced:
    • SCC’s Library
    • SCC’s online citation tool: NoodleTools
    • Librarians (online or in-person)
  • External evidence mentioned:
    • A general claim that eyewitness testimony is the least reliable legal evidence, attributed to “look it up” (no specific study or author named).

Original video