How to Create a Bibliography or Works Cited Page

Bibliography or Works Cited Page

A bibliography is a list of the sources you've used in a research paper, project, or presentation.
A bibliography follows a particular format called a style. Our district uses MLA.
Bibliographies are required to avoid plagiarism.
Use the MLA formatted citation found on your source cards.
Our district recommends Scribbr for citation support.
Remember that SC Discus databases provide citations for you that you can copy.

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography includes a bibliography plus an annotation for each source.
The purpose of the annotation is to give a brief summary of the source, as well as some commentary about the source.
3 parts of an annotation:
- - summary of the information presented by the source
  - evaluation of the source's usefulness in answering your research question(s)
  - explanation of the type of source, including its relevance and authority
You will save time if you record annotation notes on your source cards as you research.
Your annotation should be written in an indented paragraph directly beneath the citation. This means that the first line of your citation should be the only thing on the far left-hand side. This helps each source stand out on the page.
Repeat the process for any remaining sources, then proofread for formatting, spelling, and punctuation errors.

A works cited page lists only the sources that you cited within your text, while a bibliography lists ALL the sources that you consulted during your research, whether you cited them or not. Both utilize hanging indents and are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name or the first word of the citation. You will use your source cards to create these documents. For more in-depth information and formatted examples, visit Scribbr's MLA Style Annotated Bibliography Format & Examples.

In-text citations are also required. They are a shorter version that can be used to find the full citation listed on your bibliography or works cited page. In-text citations include the author's last name and page number (if available) in parentheses or in the narrative. Refer to the specific types of Source Cards for examples. You must give credit for all ideas that are not your own or considered general knowledge.

Sometimes you will be asked to write an annotated bibliography. Annotations will help you look more critically at your sources. They are typically one paragraph long, with a good target being 150-200 words. An annotated bibliography may be assigned as part of a research project or as a stand-alone assignment. Sometimes your teacher may ask you to group your sources by different types.

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