Format an Annotated Bibliography in APA 7th Edition (Beginners Guide), by Smart Student on YouTube. 3 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open a new page in your document and centre the title Annotated Bibliography in bold at the top. Use the same font and size as the rest of your paper.
Set the page to double spacing with 1-inch margins and add a page number in the top right corner. APA student papers also need a title page before this page.
Type each reference entry in full APA 7th edition style: author, year, title, source. Keep the entries in alphabetical order by the first author's surname.
Apply a hanging indent to each reference entry. In Word, open Paragraph settings, set Special to Hanging and the indent to 0.5 inches.
Start the annotation on the line directly below its reference entry. Do not add a blank line between the entry and the annotation.
Indent the whole annotation block 0.5 inches from the left margin so it sits under the hanging indent. Keep the text double spaced.
Write the annotation in three parts: summarise the source, evaluate its credibility and usefulness, then explain how it fits your research.
Repeat the entry and annotation for every source, then check that all indents, spacing and alphabetisation match APA 7th edition before you submit.
Tips and common mistakes
A hanging indent means the first line starts at the margin and every following line is indented, which is the opposite of a normal paragraph indent.
Keep each annotation short, usually one paragraph of about 100 to 200 words, unless your assignment states a different length.
Do not add a blank line between the reference and its annotation, or the hanging indent will look wrong.
Check your course guide first, since some tutors want a different annotation length or extra headings.
Questions
What are the three parts of an APA annotation?
A summary of the source, an evaluation of its credibility and relevance, and a reflection on how you will use it in your research.
Does the annotation need a hanging indent too?
No. The reference entry gets the hanging indent. The annotation is a normal indented block that starts on the next line.
Should the title say Annotated Bibliography?
Yes. Centre and bold the words Annotated Bibliography at the top of the page, following the APA heading style for your paper.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
