What are the 3 parts of an annotated bibliography APA?

The three parts of an annotated bibliography in APA style are as follows:TitleAnnotationCitation

How long should an APA annotated bibliography be?

For an APA annotated bibliography, it is recommended to include three to six sentences of approximately 150 words in total.

The Basics of Annotated Bibliography APA Style

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What is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources—books, articles, websites, etc.—that you've used for researching your paper or project. It provides a brief description and evaluation of the source material and its relevance to your topic.

In addition, it also helps other researchers understand how you used the source material in your research.

APA Style Annotated Bibliography

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is the most common format used for annotated bibliographies. This style is used by many disciplines, including the social sciences.

Components of an Annotated Bibliography APA 7th Edition

When writing an annotated bibliography in APA 7th edition, there are a few components that you should include. These components include the following:

Title Page: Your annotated bibliography should include an APA-formatted title page.
Pages Numbered: All the pages in your annotated bibliography should be numbered beginning with the title page.
Reference List: An APA formatted reference list should begin on its own page. All references should be centered and bolded at the top of the page.
Entries Listed Alphabetically: All entries in your annotated bibliography should be listed in alphabetical order.
Annotations: Annotations for each reference should begin under its associated reference and be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.
Double Spacing: The entire document should be double-spaced, with no extra space between entries.

Here is an example of an annotated bibliography in APA 7th edition format:

Reference:

Dishman, R. K., McIver, K. L., Dowda, M., Saunders, R. P., & Pate, R. R. (2019). Self-efficacy, beliefs, and goals: Moderation of declining physical activity during adolescence. Health Psychology, 38(6), 483-493. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000734.

Annotation:

The study by Dishman et al. (2019) found that self-efficacy plays an important role in physical activity levels among adolescents. It was demonstrated that having a high level of self-efficacy could help reduce the effects of perceived barriers and negative environmental influences on physical activity goals. The authors used an objective measure of physical activity, as well as self-reports of social–cognitive beliefs and physical activity goals to examine the effects of self-efficacy. Results from the study showed that participants with higher levels of self-efficacy were more likely to have higher physical activity goals, even when faced with perceived barriers and negative environmental influences. Furthermore, these findings suggest that interventions targeting self-efficacy may be effective in encouraging physical activity among adolescents, which could have important implications for health promotion. Overall, this study provides evidence that self-efficacy plays a critical role in physical activity and should be considered when designing interventions to increase physical activity among young people.

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography APA 7th Edition

Writing an annotated bibliography in APA 7th edition requires following specific steps to ensure each entry is clear and properly formatted. Here are the steps to create an annotated bibliography APA:

Step 1: Choosing Your Sources

Choosing credible academic sources is crucial for creating an effective annotated bibliography. Here are some guidelines to help you select the best sources for your research:

Peer-Reviewed Journals: Seek articles from peer-reviewed academic journals, which are considered reliable due to rigorous expert evaluation.
Books by Reputable Publishers: Use academic books from well-known publishers (like university presses) for in-depth and credible coverage of topics.
Academic Databases: Access scholarly articles and research papers through academic databases like JSTOR, PubMed, and Google Scholar, which often allow filtering for peer-reviewed content.
Government and Educational Websites: Rely on sites ending in .gov or .edu for authoritative research reports, statistics, and educational resources.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your annotated bibliography contains high-quality sources that enhance the credibility of your research.

Step 2: Writing the APA Citation

Once you have chosen your sources, the next step is to write the citations in APA format. The APA citation style has specific rules for formatting both in-text citations and reference lists.

In-Text Citations: When citing a source within the text of your paper, include the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example:

(Smith, 2020) for a single author.
(Smith & Jones, 2020) for two authors.
(Smith et al., 2020) for three or more authors.

Reference List Citations: In your reference list, the format for an APA citation typically follows this structure:

Books: Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of the book: Subtitle if applicable. Publisher.

Example: Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Psychology. Academic Press.

Journal Articles: Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume number(issue number), page range. DOI or URL

Example: Smith, J. (2020). The effects of sleep on learning. Journal of Sleep Research, 29(3), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1234/jsr.2020.12345

Ensure that your citations are formatted with a hanging indent, where the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.

Step 3: Writing the Annotations

Annotations provide a summary, evaluation, and reflection on each source, making them an essential part of your annotated bibliography. Follow these steps when writing annotations:

Summary of the Source’s Content: Begin by summarizing the main arguments and findings of the source. Aim for 2-3 sentences that capture the essence of the work.

Example: "In Understanding Psychology, Smith (2020) explores the relationship between cognitive processes and emotional responses, highlighting key theories and research studies that illustrate how psychology informs human behavior."

Evaluation of the Source’s Credibility and Relevance: Assess the reliability of the source. Consider the author’s qualifications, the publication’s reputation, and how recent the information is.

Example: "Smith is a respected psychologist with over 15 years of research experience in cognitive psychology, making this source highly credible. The book is published by Academic Press, a well-known publisher in the field."

Reflection on How the Source Fits into Your Research: Discuss how the source contributes to your research topic or question. Explain its significance in relation to your thesis or argument.

Example: "This source is particularly relevant to my research on cognitive behavior because it provides a comprehensive overview of foundational theories that will support my analysis of emotional intelligence."

Example of a Well-Formatted APA Annotation

Below is an example of a properly formatted APA citation followed by its annotation:

Citation: Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Psychology. Academic Press.

Annotation: In Understanding Psychology, Smith (2020) explores the relationship between cognitive processes and emotional responses, highlighting key theories and research studies that illustrate how psychology informs human behavior. Smith is a respected psychologist with over 15 years of research experience in cognitive psychology, making this source highly credible. The book is published by Academic Press, a well-known publisher in the field. This source is particularly relevant to my research on cognitive behavior because it provides a comprehensive overview of foundational theories that will support my analysis of emotional intelligence.

APA Annotated Bibliography Formatting Guidelines

Here are some formatting guidelines to keep in mind when writing your annotated bibliography:

Page Margins: Use 1-inch page margins on all sides.
Line Spacing: The entire page should be double-spaced.
Title Page: Title your page, “Annotated Bibliography”. Center and bold it.
Reference List: Left-align references and indent any line extending past the first by a ½ inch from the left margin. Be sure to organize your listings alphabetically according to the initial word of each reference.
Annotations: Insert annotations and indent them half an inch from the left margin.
Page Numbers: Include a page number in the upper right corner of each page.

Reference:

Johnson, R. C., & Allen, T. D. (2013). Examining the links between employed mothers’ work characteristics, physical activity, and child health. Journal of Applied Psychology, 98(1), 148- 157. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030460

Annotation:

The authors created a process model to investigate relationships between job/work demands, physical activity, and health among employed mothers and their children. Using data from a multi-wave, nationwide study containing information on 359 mother–child dyads, the authors investigated how both strain-based (job control and role ambiguity) and time-based (work hours) job demands relate to child health via child modeling of mothers’ physical activity. The results showed that, when controlling for individual and family characteristics, employed mothers with higher strain-based and time-based job demands exercised less and their children were also in poorer health due to decreased physical activity. This study provides evidence that strain-based and time-based job demands can have negative impacts on both mother and child physical activity, ultimately resulting in poorer health outcomes for the child.

For a more comprehensive understanding, please view the attached PDF below.

Annotated Bibliography APA Example PDF

Examples of Annotated Bibliography APA

Examples are a great way to get an idea of what a properly formatted annotated bibliography looks like.

Here are a few examples of what an annotated bibliography in APA 7th edition format looks like:

Annotated Bibliography APA 7th Edition Template

Here are examples for APA 7th and 6th editions:

Annotated Bibliography APA 7th Edition

Johnson, L. R. (2019). The impacts of social media on communication. Journal of Communication Research, 45(3), 211-230. https://doi.org/10.1234/jcr.2019.45.3.211

This article examines how social media platforms affect interpersonal communication and social skills among teenagers. Johnson's research highlights the potential negative effects of social media on face-to-face interactions, making it a valuable reference for studies on communication dynamics in the digital age.

Annotated Bibliography APA 6th Edition

Johnson, L. R. (2019). The impacts of social media on communication. Journal of Communication Research, 45(3), 211-230. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1234/jcr.2019.45.3.211

Key Differences

These are the major differences between the two editions:

DOI/URLs: In APA 7th edition, the retrieval statement "Retrieved from" is no longer necessary before the DOI or URL, while in APA 6th edition, it is required.
Format: Both versions require a hanging indent for citations and double spacing throughout.
Overall Structure: The structure remains largely the same, but pay attention to specific punctuation and capitalization rules that may differ between editions.

Title Page For Annotated Bibliography APA

The title page in APA 7th edition should include your name, the title of your paper, and any necessary course information. Here is an example of a title page for an annotated bibliography:

Expert Tip

Need more inspiration for your Bibliography? We've compiled additional helpful annotated bibliography examples!

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This blog provides guidelines based on the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition Manual. For more details, consult the official APA Style guide.

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