If you have already worked on a research paper,research proposal,or dissertation,then you probably know what is anannotated bibliographyas well as its characteristic peculiarities. However,many writers still confuse this task with aliterature review paper,though they are different. In our tutorial,we are going to help you figure out what makes an annotated bibliography different from a literature review by focusing on the characteristic features of both assignments.
Whereas both pieces of writing require summarizing academic sources related to one topic,they differ by the way of presenting findings. Both an annotated bibliography and a literature review can describe the same subject. However,a literature review aims to answer the research question suggested in the work. In its turn,an annotated bibliography focuses on evaluating the importance of sources related to the topic.
Annotated Bibliography Writing: Efficient TipsIf you want to succeed in annotated bibliography writing,you should know that there are several different types of annotated bibliographies:
As you can see,this annotated bibliography type allows providing an in-depth assessment of the source,which may help the target audience understand if the source fits the research topic.
Assess the Relevance of the Sources You UseIt goes without saying,all the sources you use in your annotated bibliography should be credible,relevant,and peer-reviewed. Besides,each of the sources you used in your paper should contribute to the development of your research topic. To determine if you should use the source in your paper,you should be able to critically evaluate the central argument of the source. In case you are planning to include a non-textual source in your paper,you should clearly state its relevance. To figure out if your annotated bibliography is written well,your readers should understand the value of your source for the topic,its accuracy,as well as its limitations and effectiveness in addressing the research problem. By keeping these points in mind,you will find it easier to establish whether to use a source in your annotated bibliography or not. Besides,you can have a look at the following questions,as they will help you understand if you are interested in using a particular source in your annotated bibliography paper:
A lot of writers mistakenly believe that a literature review is just an annotated bibliography turned into the text that comprises several paragraphs. However,a literature review is much more than just a synopsis of the literary works. At the same time,it is not a series of reviews of different academic sources. The main goal of your literature review is to connect your study to the existing theory and research pertaining to your topic. A good-looking literature review will demonstrate the author’s awareness of the contributions of other scholars into the development of the topic. If you manage to succeed with completing this assignment,you will be able to convince your reader that your paper is a significant part of the ongoing scholarly discussion.
Have a look at some steps you need to take to write a winning literature review:
1. Select a topic that fits your research interests and learn more about it. If you can select a subject for your paper,you need to pick up the one that is clear and relevant. By working with a testable research question,you will be able to show your contribution to the topic development;
2. Carry out sociological research on your topic of interest. This stage consists of several steps:
3. As soon as you are done with collecting and evaluating sources,make sure to formulate a research question. If you want to engage your reader,you need to make your research question a part of the scientific conversation.
As you can see,a literature review paper is not just a list of summaries of various scientific studies. It is a comprehensive overview that should be connected to the other parts of your paper. A literature review is often a part of a sophisticated academic project such as a thesis or a dissertation. It should help the researcher explain what gap he or she is going to address by their work.
Literature Review StructureAs well as in any other academic papers,you need to follow the traditional structure to make your ideas easy to follow. In accordance with the common structure,your literature review should have an opening part,the main body,and a conclusion.
In your introduction,you need to explain the significance of the topic as well as provide some background information to help your target audience understand your subject better. Do not worry if you are lacking inspiration or do not know what to write in your introduction paragraph. In this case,you may start writing your paper with the main body part,leaving your introduction until the end of the writing process.
In the main body of your literature review,you are supposed to provide your summative,comparative,and evaluative comments on the sources you have found. The comments you provide in the main body are related to:
The concluding part of your literature review should summarize the main issues your paper discusses. It should explain once again where your own research begins as well as the directions of your future research.
How to Organize a perfect Literature ReviewThere are several different ways to organize your literature review. Your task is to choose the most appropriate principle and stick to it. Below,you will find the common ways writers use to organize their literature review papers:
Now,when you know the characteristic features of each assignment,you can easily recognize the difference between a literature review and an annotated bibliography. A literature review has a form of an expository essay,including an introductory part,the main body,and a conclusion. On the contrary,an annotated bibliography is just a list of entries that presents analytical summaries of all sources one used while writing a paper. A writer should use each source just once in an annotated bibliography,but he/she can address it a couple of times in a literature review. Finally,a literature review should include in-text citations that should follow a formatting style indicated in instructions.
ConclusionLet us summarize the key similarities and differences between an annotated bibliography and a literature review;