How to Produce a Quality APA Style Annotated Bibliography Format

Posted by Drachmann Gustavsen on January 14th, 2021

Tips on Writing an APA Annotated Bibliography Format

The annotated bibliography format is an essential resource for referencing in scholarly work. However, learners often ignore its requirements and produce shoddy work. A student who is assigned an annotated bibliography for the first time may wonder what they should include. Fortunately, through the right guidance, anyone can hack it and deliver an annotated bibliography that meets the current academic standards. 

Writing the Format

There are several tips that one must adhere to when writing the annotated bibliography format. For instance, you must start with the correct APA citation style, apply the correct formatting, and cite the resources appropriately. dissertation proposal writing service Below is a simple breakdown that you should follow:

• Start with the correct APA citation

Always ascertain that you know what referencing style your instructor expects. When in doubt, ask your supervisor, seek clarification from your department, or contact the College Library Association for assistance. In case you are stuck and can’t seem to find the correct APA citation, use this alternative citation:

Non-plagiarized content: APA guidelines recommend that you make your content original. Hence, you can incorporate content from other sources in your research work in an annotated bibliography. However, whenever you utilize such information, ensure you cite the sources as you do any other non-APA sources.

1. The format of the reference page matters

Different sources demand different formatting styles. For instance, a book might have a different page number or formatting style from that of an article. Hence you should identify and follow the correct formatting for the sources that you write. APA guidelines suggest that you use double spacing, 12 point font Times New Roman, and double-paged pages. For any other format, consult your instructor.

1. Annotate every source used

In case you have numerous sources, you should write them down in order of authors, title, and then page number. You can also write the author, title, institution, year of publication, and length of the document in case of a bibliography. Whatever you do, ensure that you record each source's page number aligned with the corresponding author’s references in the correct order.

When recording sources, remember not to include any abbreviations. In case you are using some brief terms like “zealots," you should write them down as “zealots," not “zosals." Such abbreviations are not allowed when quoting the sources as they are case sensitive. 

Output Formatting

While you are following the guidelines when writing the annotated bibliography format, ensure that your work is formatted correctly. To achieve a proper format, compare your work to examples provided by your department or consult your instructor. While it is acceptable to produce an annotated bibliography in Word, you can also access professional formatting services that help you format the document any way you need.

By following these tips and following APA guidelines on annotated bibliography writing, you are guaranteed the best reference format and quality. You can also share the project with your professor for proofreading and editing.