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In the context of an annotated bibliography, an annotation typically means a summary and evaluation of a source. This summary/evaluation is often written as a single paragraph that occurs after the works-cited style entry. You can find an example annotation below, and a properly formatted example document at the bottom of this text box. This example is in MLA. For other examples of MLA and also APA annotated bibliography entries, please see Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) Annotated Bibliography Samples.
Smith, Roger. "Embracing Changing Technology: Impacts on Student Learning." Educational Technology Quarterly. 27.1 (2014): 278-286. Smith's article explains that students now have access to a wide variety of technologies, and many of those technologies are entering the classroom space. Some technologies like tablets can have a positive impact on student learning by presenting mutlimedia content and allowing for educational apps that text student knowledge (279). Other technologies like smartphones can have negative effects on student learning. Phones can create distractions in the classroom, especially considering the availability of apps and games like Fortnite (281). Smith recommends that phones be monitored closely in most educational contexts, and that technologies like tablets should be used to try and capture student attention (283). Smith's article outlines some of the key benefits and drawbacks of using technology in classrooms. The summary of available research on phones was useful, but Smith neglected to provide strategies for teachers to use in order to combat the constant use of phones in a classroom.
Summary involves reading a large piece of text (like an article or book) and presenting a shortened version of that text in your own words. Summaries should seek to reproduce important main ideas from a text. Determining the main ideas of a text requires close reading, note taking, and analytic decisions by authors.
How to Summarize an Article
Evaluation involves determining the overall usefulness of the article you have just read. Sources can be complex and multi-faceted, meaning a source may do a good job of providing background information, but may not produce an excellent argument. As a writer, it is your job to evaluate the source and determine how you could would potentially use it in an essay.
How to Evaluate a Source
