Recognize the proper format for the assignment. Each entry in an annotated bibliography begins with the bibliographic source information and is followed by the annotation. When formatting an annotated bibliography using MLA style, the first line of each bibliographic entry begins flush left at the margin. Subsequent lines are indented by a half inch. After completing the bibliographic information, begin the annotation on a new line. The first line of the annotation is indented an inch from the left margin. The subsequent lines of the annotation are indented a half inch from the left margin. Double spacing is used throughout the bibliography. Do not add extra spaces between the bibliographic material and the annotation or between the different entries.
Learn the format for bibliographic entries. In MLA style, the standard order for a bibliographic book entry is the author's name (last name, first name), followed by a period; the title of the book either in italics or underlined, followed by a period; the city of publication, followed by a colon; the name of the publishing company, followed by a comma; and the year of publication, followed by a period. If you need to format another kind of source, such as a journal article or a website, consult the most recent edition of the "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers."
Know the length and content for the annotation. Each annotation should be approximately three to seven lines long, unless the instructor indicates otherwise. The annotation can be comprised of all or some of the following: a summary of the source's content, an assessment of the source and a reflection about the source. Check with the instructor to determine which elements should be included.
Understand the differences between an annotation's elements. Most instructors will require that the annotation include a summary. A summary tells what the source material is about. An assessment goes farther and evaluates the source, addressing its usefulness, whether the author showed bias and whether or not the information is reliable. A reflection discusses how useful the source was to the writer of the research paper.