What is the structure of an annotation (in an annotated bibliography)?
Answered By: Stormye Hendrix
Last Updated: Aug 03, 2021

Structure of an Annotation

Length

Generally, annotations constitute one paragraph and are approximately 100 -150 words long, with a goal of concise and explicative annotations

Person

The third person is the standard, though first person may be appropriate for certain types of annotated bibliographies.

Language and Vocabulary

Use the vocabulary of the author, as much as possible, to convey the ideas and conclusions of the author. If you use a quotation excerpted from the work set it within quotation marks. Vary your sentence structure and try to avoid repetitive empty phrases in your annotations, such as, "The author states," "This article concerns," or "The purpose of this report is," as well as sentences starting with "It was suggested that," "It was found that," and "It was reported that."

Format

Sentences

Whole sentences are preferable, but single descriptive words, and simple phrases or lists may be acceptable.

Paragraphs

Annotations should be one paragraph long. The paragraph should contain a statement of the work's major thesis, from which the rest of the sentences can develop.