SOC 201: Galta, S. (Fall 2025) - Social Problems: Annotated Bibliographies

What is an Annotation?

An annotation is a brief description and/or evaluation of the content, purpose, and usefulness of a source. Annotations can be written for a variety of purposes, though generally they are written as a way to help those interested in a topic find reliable information on that topic. As a student, writing annotations can help you:

• Increase your awareness of different kinds of resources available about your topic

• Identify, describe and perhaps evaluate the content, purpose and usefulness of different kinds of sources

Your annotations should:

Describe what YOU found out about a source and what YOU think of its usefulness.

Your annotations should NOT:

Be a collection of text copied from that source. The annotation is only helpful if you are the one describing and evaluating the source in your own words.

Annotated Bibliography Resources

The following websites provide examples to help you with writing your annotations.

Sample Annotation in APA Style

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project’s strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source’s potential importance or usefulness for this person’s own research.

Source:  "Sample APA Annotation" by Purdue OWL. Access more annotation examples and information using the link below.

• Be sure to scroll down on page to view the APA sample annotation