Often when a student is assigned to complete an annotated bibliography, he is still in the early stages of his project research. Because the annotated bibliography requires the student to summarize and describe every source he uses, it also encourages critical thinking about both his topic and how the sources relate to one another. For instance, through the process of becoming familiar with his sources and writing the notations for the annotated bibliography, the student can begin to draw connections and see the similarities and differences in his sources. He can begin to plan which sources will best support which points.
An annotated bibliography also aids the student in organizing her sources far more effectively than a plain works cited page could. Because she will summarize and describe every source, she will become familiar with what each source discusses. Without these summaries or descriptions, she may forget which source made a crucial point that supports her topic. Some students use note cards to take notes when researching, but an annotated bibliography organizes everything alphabetically and in one electronic document. Therefore, all the student has to do if she wants to find a particular source covering a particular topic is scan through her annotated bibliography to refresh her memory.
The annotated bibliography is beneficial when a student must demonstrate to a professor that he understands his topic and is familiar with the research that exists regarding his approach. It allows the professor to gauge how deeply the student has familiarized himself with his research early in the paper writing process. That way, if the professor sees that the student has written weak annotations and seems to be struggling, he can intervene and help guide the student in the right direction. This prevents the student from nearly completing a research paper and getting feedback when it may be too late to alter the outcome and avoid a negative grade.
Almost every advantage to an annotated bibliography points back to preparation. The annotated bibliography forces the student to read and carefully consider her research before beginning to write her paper, and thus she goes into her larger project already familiar with how her work can be supported by other sources. She will have made connections between her sources and be able to plan how to use them in the larger project. Her professor will be able to read and intervene if necessary should the student demonstrate a lack of understanding. All of these advantages allow the student to embark on her project from a strong foundation of preparedness, which will enhance her confidence and chances of achieving a desirable grade.