ib extended essay annotated bibliography

Extended Essay Writers

What Is the Role of Annotated Bibliographies in EE Writing?

Luke MacQuoid

Hello, fellow students and aspiring scholars! As a seasoned IB writer, I’m thrilled to share my insights on a topic close to every researcher’s heart: annotated bibliographies in extended essay writing. From my extensive experience, I can assure you that mastering this skill can significantly uplift your research game.

What Are Annotated Bibliographies?

An annotated bibliography consists of a compilation of references to books, articles, and documents. For each citation, there is a concise paragraph, typically around 150 words long, describing and evaluating the source. This paragraph, known as the annotation, enlightens the reader about the cited resources’ significance, precision, and excellence.

In my extensive experience with extended essay writing, I’ve found annotated bibliographies to be crucial, yet often underappreciated, tools. They are far more than a mere list of sources ; they are comprehensive guides highlighting your research path.

An annotated bibliography, at its core, serves two primary functions. First, it offers a concise summary of each source. This isn’t just a rehash of the abstract or the introduction; it’s a brief encapsulation of the work’s main arguments, findings, and conclusions. This summary is invaluable as it allows you to quickly recall the critical points of a source, especially useful when juggling multiple references in an extended essay (EE) .

Second, perhaps more importantly, an annotated bibliography critically evaluates each source. This evaluation isn’t just a subjective opinion but an informed assessment of the source’s credibility, relevance, and quality. You examine the author’s credentials, the rigor of their methodology, and the soundness of their arguments. This critical lens is vital in extended essay writing, where the strength of your argument is bolstered by the quality of the sources you choose.

The Importance of Annotated Bibliographies in Research

In my extensive experience as an IB writer, I’ve recognized the indispensable role of annotated bibliographies in extended essay research. These are not just collections of sources; they are essential tools that bring depth and rigor to your research. The key benefits, from my perspective, include:

• An annotated bibliography offers a structured approach to organizing your research sources. It is crucial when dealing with numerous articles, books, and papers. It serves as a personalized roadmap, making the review process more efficient and less overwhelming.
• One of the most significant aspects of annotated bibliographies is how they foster critical thinking. When annotating sources, you actively engage with the material, assessing its relevance and contribution to your topic. This analytical process is vital in the IB, where developing strong critical thinking skills is essential.
• In extended essay research, the credibility and relevance of your sources are paramount. Annotated bibliographies compel you to evaluate each source’s validity and reliability, ensuring your essay is founded on trustworthy research.
• As you annotate each source, you reflect on its place within your broader research context. This reflection deepens your understanding and helps you draw connections between various ideas and viewpoints, which is crucial for a comprehensive extended essay.
• By summarizing and evaluating sources in your own words, you develop a more precise grasp of the material, leading to more original and authentic writing, thereby reducing the risk of plagiarism.

So, annotated bibliographies are more than just a preparatory step in writing; they are integral to the success of your extended essay. Their benefits — from enhanced organization to deeper engagement with your research topic — underscore their value in the IB DP curriculum .

How to Make Effective Annotated Bibliographies in EE Writing?

As a seasoned IB tutor with a wealth of experience in writing extended essays, I feel it’s essential to share some insights on creating effective annotated bibliographies. In my opinion, this aspect is often overlooked but can immensely impact the quality of your research.

1. Start with a Clear Citation

First, every entry in your annotated bibliography should begin with a proper citation. According to general IB criteria, consistency in your citation style (APA, MLA, or another format) is crucial. It lends credibility to your work and helps maintain a professional and academic standard.

2. Concise Summary

The next step is to provide a brief yet comprehensive source summary. It should include the work’s main arguments, findings, and conclusions. Remember, the goal is to give a snapshot of the source, so avoid excessive detail. Keep it short and to the point.

3. Critical Evaluation

It is where your analytical skills come into play. In my view, a good annotated bibliography doesn’t just summarize but also critically evaluates the source. Discuss the source’s reliability, biases (if any), and contribution to your topic. This evaluation is critical to demonstrating your ability to discern quality sources for your research.

4. Reflection on Relevance

Reflecting on how each source fits into your research is essential. Discuss why you chose each option and how it contributes to your EE’s broader context. This step demonstrates your ability to synthesize information and connect ideas relevant to your research question .

5. Consistency in Format and Tone

As I know from years of writing, maintaining a consistent format and tone throughout your annotated bibliography is vital. This consistency makes your work more readable and professionally presentable. Ensure that each entry follows the same structure and that your tone remains academic and objective.

Annotated Bibliographies as Learning Tools

Interestingly, annotated bibliographies are more than just a part of your essay; they’re valuable learning tools. They encourage you to engage actively with your sources, enhancing your research skills.

1. Summarizing Sources

Summarizing sources can be challenging, but it’s a skill that can be honed. Aim for brevity and clarity. In my experience, a well-summarized resource provides the essence of the material, making it easier to recall its relevance to your research.

2. Critical Analysis and Reflection

Critical analysis involves questioning the resource’s purpose, context, and contribution to your topic. Reflecting on these aspects deepens your understanding of the subject and showcases your analytical prowess.

3. Developing Critical Thinking

This process fosters critical thinking. As you scrutinize each source, you learn to identify biases, understand different perspectives, and develop a more nuanced understanding of your topic. These skills are invaluable in any academic task.

4. Improving Writing Skills

Furthermore, annotated bibliographies improve your writing skills. They require you to articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely, a vital skill in any academic writing, especially in the IB.

Do’s and Don’ts in Annotated Bibliography Writing

Drawing from my extensive experience as an IB writer, I would like to share some practical advice on crafting effective annotated bibliographies. These tips are based on general IB criteria and my insights into what makes an annotated bibliography truly valuable:

• In my opinion, the essence of a good annotated bibliography lies in its critical and reflective evaluations. Don’t just present the information; analyze its relevance, question its validity, and reflect on its contribution to your research topic.
• While summaries are essential, they should be concise and focused. A well-written summary captures the essence of the source without getting into unnecessary details.
• Consistency in formatting is critical. Whether you follow APA, MLA, or any other citation style, apply it uniformly throughout your bibliography. This consistency not only enhances readability but also adheres to academic standards.
• Always ensure that each source is directly relevant to your research question. From my experience, irrelevant sources can detract from the overall quality of your essay.
• Proofreading is crucial. As I know from my writing, even minor errors can undermine the credibility of your work. Ensure that your annotated bibliography is free from grammatical and formatting errors.

Need help with your IB extended essay?

From research and analysis to structuring and editing, our skilled mentors will be by your side, helping you craft an exceptional extended essay that not only meets the wordcount and stringent IB criteria but also reflects your passion for selected IB group .

Let’s also discuss some of the mistakes you should avoid when writing an annotated bibliography:

• It’s essential to go beyond summarization. Analyze each source and provide a critical evaluation of its content. As I’ve learned, the best bibliographies offer more than a recap; they provide insightful critiques.
• In my experience, including various perspectives in your research is beneficial. Avoid relying solely on sources supporting your viewpoint; consider those offering contrasting views.
• Adhering to formatting guidelines is not optional. In my view, failure to follow the prescribed citation style can significantly impact the professionalism of your work.
• Be selective with your sources. As per general IB criteria, using credible and academic sources is imperative. Avoid overly biased or non-academic references.
• Each source in your bibliography should have a clear purpose in your research. From my experience, articulating why each source is included strengthens your bibliography’s overall impact.

So, creating an adequate annotated bibliography requires a balance of critical analysis, concise summarization, and meticulous attention to detail. By following these do’s and don’ts, you can develop a bibliography that supports and enhances your extended essay, reflecting high academic rigor and insight.

Conclusion: The Impact of Annotated Bibliographies on EE Success

To wrap up, remember that a well-written annotated bibliography is a cornerstone of a successful extended essay . It organizes and evaluates your sources and sharpens your critical thinking and writing skills. Trust me, investing time in creating detailed and thoughtful annotations will pay off in your final essay. By the way, Extended Essay Writers are always at your service if you need any help. 😉

Luke MacQuoid has extensive experience teaching English as a foreign language in Japan, having worked with students of all ages for over 12 years. Currently, he is teaching at the tertiary level. Luke holds a BA from the University of Sussex and an MA in TESOL from Lancaster University, both located in England. As well to his work as an IB Examiner and Master Tutor, Luke also enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with others through writing articles for various websites, including extendedessaywriters.com blog

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US IB Extended Essay: Bibliographies, References & Citations

• Academic Writing
• Researchers Reflective Space (RRS)
• Research Questions
• Databases & Web Resources (English & Spanish)
• Bibliographies, References & Citations
• Reflections
• Subject Specific EE Resources

Commonly Used Terms

Access Date:  The date you first look at a source. The access date is added to the end of citations for all websites except library databases.

Citation : Details about one cited source.

Citing : The process of acknowledging the sources of your information and ideas.

In-Text Citation : A brief note at the point where information is used from a source to indicate where the information came from. An in-text citation should always match more detailed information that is available in the Works Cited List.

Paraphrasing : Taking information that you have read and putting it into your own words.

Plagiarism : Taking, using, and passing off as your own, the ideas or words of another.

Quoting : The copying of words of text originally published elsewhere. Direct quotations generally appear in quotation marks and end with a citation.

Works Cited List : Contains details on ALL the sources cited in a text or essay, and supports your research and/or premise.

Definitions

An extended essay must reflect intellectual honesty in research practices and provide the reader with the exact  sources of quotations, ideas and points of view through accurate bibliographies and referencing. Producing accurate citations, referencing and a bibliography is a skill that students should be seeking to perfect. Documenting the research in this way is vital: it allows readers to evaluate the evidence for themselves and it shows the student’s understanding of the importance of the sources used.

Failure to comply with this requirement will be viewed as plagiarism and will, therefore, be treated as a case of malpractice.

What is a bibliography?

A bibliography is an alphabetical list of every source used to research and write the essay. Sources that are not cited in the body of the essay, but were  important in informing the approach taken, should be cited in the introduction or in an acknowledgment. The bibliography should list only those sources cited.

There are a number of different documentation styles available for use when writing research papers; most are appropriate in some academic disciplines but not others. The supervisor should help the student decide on a style for the particular subject of the essay. It is important to remember that, whatever style is chosen, it must be applied consistently. When choosing the documentation style, the student needs to have a clear understanding of how it is to be used before embarking on the research task. The documentation style should be applied in both th e fi nal draft of the essay and in the initial research stages of taking notes. This is good practice, not only for producing a high-quality final product, but also for reducing the opportunities and temptation to plagiarize.

What is a reference?

A reference is a way of indicating to the reader, in an orderly form, where information has been obtained. A reference provides all the information needed to find the source material.  References must be cited because they acknowledge the sources used, and enable the reader to consult the work and verify the data that has been presented.

References must be given whenever someone else’s work is quoted or summarized. References can come from many different sources, including books, magazines, journals, newspapers, emails, internet sites and interviews.

Internet references should include the title of the extract used as well as the website address, the date it was accessed and, if possible, the author. Caution should be exercised with information on websites that do not give references or that cannot be cross-checked against other sources. The more important a particular point is to the essay, the more the quality of its source needs to be evaluated.

Any references to interviews should state the name of the interviewer, the name of the interviewee, the date and the place of the interview.

What is a citation?

A citation is a shorthand method of making a reference in the body of an essay, which is then linked to the full reference at the end of the essay. A citation provides the reader with accurate references so that he or she can locate the source easily. How sources are cited varies with the particular documentation style that has been chosen.

Page numbers should normally be given when referencing printed material: in some styles this will be in the citation, in others in the full reference. Once again, it is important to emphasize that there must be consistency of method when citing sources.

Appendices, footnotes and endnotes

Appendices, footnotes and endnotes are not an essential section of the extended essay and examiners are not required to read them, so care should be taken to include all information of direct relevance to the analysis and argument in the main body of the essay. An essay that attempts to evade the word limit by including important material in notes or appendices risks losing marks under several criteria.

Unless considered essential, complete lists of raw data should not be included in the extended essay.

Students should not constantly refer to material presented in an appendix as this may disrupt the continuity of the essay.

(Handbook, p. 10-12.)

MLA Style is the required style used at ASM for research papers in the Humanities.

MLA style was created by the Modern Language Association of America. It is a set of rules for publications, including research papers.

There are two parts to MLA: In-text citations and the Works Cited list.

In MLA, you must "cite" sources that you have paraphrased, quoted or otherwise used to write your research paper. Cite your sources in two places:

• In the body of your paper where you add a brief in-text citation.
• In the Works Cited list at the end of your paper where you give more complete information for the source.

Core Elements of an MLA Citation

MLA 8th edition provides 9 core elements to complete any works cited entry. It is your job to try to fill in these core elements with the information you have about a source. If any element is missing or not applicable, you can skip that element.

Author. "Title of source." (title is in italics if the source is self-contained. For example, an entire book.)

Title of Container,  (for example, the title of a book, journal, web site) Other contributors, (such as editors, translators, or directors.) Version,  Number,  Publisher, Publication date, Location.

Note:  According to p. 42 of the  MLA Handbook , publisher information may be omitted for:

• periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)
• works published by an author or editor
• web sites whose title is the same as the name of the publisher
• a web site not involved in producing the work it makes (e.g. user-generated content sites like  YouTube )

APA style  (also known as APA format) is a writing style and format for academic documents such as  scholarly journal  articles and books. It is commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences, including sociology, education, nursing, criminal justice, and anthropology, as well as psychology. It is described in the style guide of the American Psychological Association (APA), which is titled the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

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Extended Essay: Writing & Citing

• Getting started
• Organizational tools
• NoodleTools
• In-text citations
• Image sources and labelling (including graphs, charts, and other visuals)
• Reflecting on the process
• Criterion C: Critical thinking
• Ethics of AI
• Timeline 2025 Cohort

Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography for the Extended Essay

Early in the Extended Essay process, are required to submit an annotated bibliography summarizing and evaluating five sources . For each source you need to provide full bibliographic information (a compete MLA8 citation), and write a detailed annotation (paragraph) demonstrating your understanding of the source and its relevance to your larger research project. To structure your annotations, choose one of the following models:

OPCVL (best for History, Economics and Business & Management):

• The origin of the source. ( Who wrote it? Who published it? When? Where?)
• The purpose of the source, particularly relevant for primary sources . (Who is the intended audience of the source? What are they meant to get from it)
• A summary of the content of the source
• The value of the source for your research ( How does this source help you to explore your research question? How might you use it in your final paper?)
• The limitations of the source. ( What questions does this source raise? What perspective does the source take? Does the information contrast with other sources? Does it present a balanced view?) 

Purdue Online Writing Lab guidelines (available here ):

• Summarize the main argument or the main ideas in the source. What is it about?
• Assess the reliability of the source. Who wrote it? Is it current, relevant, authoritative, accurate and what is the author’s purpose?
• Reflect on the usefulness of this source to your extended essay. How will you use it to help you answer your research question? Where does it fit or how does it compare to other sources you’ve used? How has it changed or expanded your thinking? Does it raise new questions for your research?
• Annotated Bibliography sample Visit this OWL Purdue site to see an example of an MLA-formatted annotated bibliography written at a university level. You do not, necessarily, include this much detail for each of the three categories (summarize, assess and reflect).
• Annotated Bibliography sample in Google Docs This link takes you to a Google Doc template you can make a copy of and make your own.

MLA formatting quotations

The following is taken directly from the Purdue Online Writing Lab :

SHORT QUOTATIONS

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree.

According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184).

Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?

LONG QUOTATIONS

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented  1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come  after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples:

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: 

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Strategies for Essay Writing from the Harvard Writing Center

The Harvard Writing Center has "concise advice on some fundamental elements of academic writing." You can find advice on each stage of the writing process on their site.

During the later stages of writing, you should take the time to visit the entries Ending the Essay: Conclusions , Revising the Draft , and Editing the Essay Part 1 , and Part 2 .

Online sources for documenting sources

• NoodleTools You can use NoodleTools to keep track of your sources and to create your Works Cited very easily and correctly formatted.

Use the citation tool in Google

Citing sources originally written in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian or Mongolian

Hao, Chunwen 郝春文.  Tang houqi wudai Songchu Dunhuang sengni de shehui shenghuo  唐后期五代宋初敦煌僧尼的社会生活 [The social existence of monks and nuns in Dunhuang during the late Tang, Five Dynasties and early Song]. Zhongguo shehui kexue chubanshe, 1998.

Journal article

Kondō, Shigekazu 近藤成一.  " Yēru Daigaku Shozō Harima no Kuni Ōbe no Shō Kankei Monjo ni tsuite" イェール大学所蔵播磨国大部庄関係文書について [On Harima no Kuni Ōbe no Shō Kankei Monjo at Yale University Collection]. Tōkyō:  Tokyō Daigaku Shiryō Hensanjo  Kenkyū  Kiyō 23   (March 2013) : 1-22. 

Newspaper article

Joo, Yong-jung 주용중, and Chung, Woo-sang 정우상. “Miseo gwangubyeong bal-saeng-hamyeon suip jungdan” 美서 광우병 발생하면 수입 중단 [Will Suspend the Import if Mad Cow Disease Attacks in the United States].  Chosun Ilbo  朝鮮日報 8 May, 2008: A1.

Database article

Beijing Airusheng shuzihua jishu yanjiu zhongxin 北京爱如生数字化技术研究中心.  Zhongguo jiben guji ku  中国基本古籍库 [Database of Chinese Classic Ancient Books], [include the URL]. Accessed [date].

Note: formatting should adhere to MLA requirements with the first line flush with the left margin and the second and subsequent lines indented. I was unable to replicate that formatting here.

MLA Checklist

• MLA Checklist Use this checklist to ensure you have met all of the formatting and citation expectations.

Videos to support your understanding of MLA requirements

Useful links for MLA formatting

• In-text citiations (Purdue OWL) This source details the correct formatting for a wide variety of types of texts and offers examples of both paraphrasing and quoting directly.
• MLA Formatting Quotations (Purdue OWL) Use this page to help you learn/review formatting for shorter and longer quotations.
• MLA Sample Works Cited Page (Purdue OWL) This page provides an example of a Works Cited page in MLA 2016 format.
• MLA Sample Paper (Purdue OWL) This resource contains a sample MLA paper that adheres to the 2016 updates. NOTE: The EE has very specific cover page requirements. Your EE should omit your name in the header and omit your name, your teacher's name, course and date on page 1.

Essay resources at the ISU Library

• They Say / I Say sentence frames

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