Students MLA Annotated Bibliography Format Guidelines

Many students find the MLA annotated bibliography format confusing. It is particularly difficult for new students to become familiar with its requirements. Some suggest referencing sources is hard to tackle, while others believe writing annotation is the most difficult part.

Either way, we have tips, examples, and solutions for you here to help you tackle the challenges of a bibliography MLA format like a pro.

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

In simple words, it is a list that has citations for articles, books, and more. The purpose of this working is to make readers understand the quality and credibility of the cited work.

For consistency and clarity, the annotation bibliography has some rules of formatting for everyone to follow. The rules of citation and annotations also boosts critical thinking in education along with students’ ability to comply with regulations.

MLA Annotated Bibliography Formatting Checklist

Now that you are familiar with what is a bibliography, let’s move on to the general formatting guidelines for MLA Annotated Bibliography:

MLA Annotated Bibliography Formatting Checklis

Now that you are familiar with what is a bibliography, let’s move on to the general formatting guidelines for MLA Annotated Bibliography:

• The page title that reads as ‘Annotated Bibliography’ must be at the center or top of the page.
• The entire document must be double spaced including annotations and citations.
• You have to use 1-inch margins on all the page sides.
• Only use a legible font such as Times New Roman and keep its size to 12pt.
• You have to organize sources alphabetically by the author’s last name. In case, no author name is available organize with the title.
• You have to indent the first line of annotation by 0.5 inches. In case the annotation goes beyond one paragraph, you need to indent additional paragraphs.

The Purpose of MLA Annotation

Before you begin to write an annotation just be sure that it is typically 4 to 5 sentences long. Its main purpose is to: 

• Provide a short info on the main topics, arguments, or findings.
• Assess the credibility of the source used for information.
• Explain how a specific source is contributing to the research paper.

Different Examples of MLA Annotated Bibliography Entries

Here are some of the MLA annotated bibliography examples to clear all your doubts:

Sample MLA Bibliography Format of a Book

Citation

Forsyth, Mark. The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase. Penguin Books, 2014.

Annotation

The author, Forsyth Mark, analyzes patterns and formats of rhetorical devices in the English language. He has connected the history of rhetoric to Ancient Greek and how it has evolved in recent times. The author has gone through over thirty rhetorical devices and his final work has definitions, practical applications, and everything an artistic mind craves.

Sample MLA Bibliography Format of a Website

Citation

What Guidance Should I Give My Students for Preparing an Annotated Bibliography?” The MLA Style Center, Modern Language Association, 4 Nov. 2016, style.mla.org/annotated-bibliographies/.

Annotation

Here the author has offered to-the-point guidelines for students on formatting an MLA bibliography with citations. The article teaches writing annotations in summary and commentary styles which is helpful for educators and students alike.

Visual Source Example

Citation

Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

MoMA.org, https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889/.

Annotation

The author Vincent Van Gogh portrays the starry night above the mental asylum in France. The painting is a masterpiece and a very important study in art history.

Use MLA Annotated Bibliography Formatting Tools

EasyBib Annotation Tool

The simplest annotated bibliography generator available for annotations. All you need is to click the Add Annotation and paste your text box. The EasyBib will format your text in minutes adhering to the consistency and rules of MLA annotated Citations.

Microsoft Word

You can also use the Hanging Indent options under paragraph formatting for accurate citations. Put annotations directly below citations and maintain double-spacing throughout.

Common Issues with MLA Annotated Citations

Problem 1: Non-textual source annotation like images or videos is often very challenging.

Solution: Take a good note of Artist/musician details, context, and historical or cultural significance.

Problem 2: Annotations should not exceed one paragraph (4-5 sentences). If a source requires detailed analysis, divide the annotation into two indented paragraphs without adding extra spacing.

Take Away

MLA annotated bibliography formatting is often termed as a difficult task by students. However, they have to ensure that follow proper guidelines of this essential skill for academic success.
Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of what MLA annotated bibliography format is all about and can do well with it. Still, if you have problems dealing with such, don’t hesitate to count on our experts.