Each annotation should run 150 to 200 words and do four things: summarize the source, evaluate its credibility and method, note its limitations, and state how it relates to your own project. Annotations that only summarize routinely score in the middle band because evaluation is where the marks sit.
The Four Moves in Every Annotation
- Summary (2-3 sentences). The argument, the method, the key finding. Not a table of contents.
- Evaluation (2-3 sentences). Who wrote it, what evidence supports it, how large and how recent the study is, whether it is peer-reviewed.
- Limitation (1-2 sentences). Sample size, geography, date, methodology, funding source, scope.
- Relevance (1-2 sentences). How you will use it, or why you decided not to.
Worked example, evaluation move: "Kumar's conclusions rest on 4,000 firms across twelve countries, which makes them considerably more generalizable than Smith's 2003 study of 40 US manufacturers. The cross-sectional design, however, cannot establish causal direction."
Format
The citation comes first in your required style, followed by the annotation as an indented paragraph. In APA 7th the whole entry keeps a hanging indent and the annotation is indented an additional half inch. Entries are alphabetical, exactly as in a reference list.
Write in complete sentences, third person, present tense for the author's argument ("Kumar argues") and past tense for what the study did ("the authors surveyed").
Choosing Sources
Instructors assess selection as well as annotation. A strong bibliography usually shows:
- Mostly peer-reviewed sources, with recency appropriate to the field
- A named seminal work where the field has one
- At least one source that disagrees with the others
- Methodological variety rather than five versions of the same study
Including a source that contradicts your position is a deliberate signal of scholarly seriousness, and instructors notice its absence.
Why This Assignment Exists
It is almost always scaffolding for a larger paper. Your instructor is checking whether you can find, judge and organize sources before you commit them to a literature review. Treating it as a formality produces a literature review built on sources you never evaluated.
Where Marks Are Lost
- Pure summary with no judgement. The single most common failure.
- Copying the abstract. Instructors recognize abstract language immediately, and it is plagiarism.
- No limitations. Every study has them; naming them demonstrates you read the methods section.
- Uneven length. Three 250-word annotations and seven 60-word ones shows where you stopped reading.
- Citation errors. The assignment is partly a referencing check, and markers treat it that way.
Frequently asked questions
How long should each annotation be?
Usually 150 to 200 words unless your instructor specifies otherwise. That length accommodates a short summary, an evaluation of credibility and method, a limitation, and a sentence on relevance to your project.
What is the difference between a summary and an annotation?
A summary reports what the source says. An annotation also evaluates it — who wrote it, how strong the evidence is, what the study cannot show, and how it fits your work. Annotations that stop at summary typically score in the middle band.
Can I copy the abstract into my annotation?
No. It is plagiarism, and instructors recognize abstract phrasing immediately. Abstracts also overstate findings and omit limitations, which is exactly the material an annotation is supposed to supply.
Should I include sources I disagree with?
Yes. Including a source that contradicts your position demonstrates scholarly seriousness and gives your later literature review a genuine debate to adjudicate. Instructors notice when every source conveniently agrees.
Want This Checked Before You Submit?
Our tutors review your draft against your own rubric and explain what to change and why — used by 45,000+ students across the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.