Research Prompts
Annotated Bibliography Entry
Write a formal annotated bibliography entry for any source you've read.
Prompt
Write a formal annotated bibliography entry for the following source.
**Citation information:**
- Author(s): [CITATION_INFO_AUTHORS]
- Title: [CITATION_INFO_TITLE]
- Year: [CITATION_INFO_YEAR]
- Publication / Publisher: [CITATION_INFO_PUBLICATION]
- URL or DOI (if applicable): [CITATION_INFO_URL]
**Citation style:** [CITATION_STYLE] (e.g., APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago 17th edition)
**My notes on what this source covers:**
[SOURCE_SUMMARY]
**My research topic:**
[YOUR_RESEARCH_TOPIC]
Please produce:
1. **Formatted citation** — a properly formatted citation in the specified [CITATION_STYLE]. Use hanging indent formatting conventions.
2. **Annotation (150–200 words)** covering:
- **Summary**: What is the source about? What is the central argument or finding?
- **Methodology**: How did the author(s) arrive at their conclusions (if applicable)?
- **Credibility**: Who are the authors, where was it published, and how does that inform its authority?
- **Relevance**: How does this source relate to your research topic? What specific aspect does it help you address?
Keep the annotation in third person, past tense for published works. Do not use first-person ("I found this useful").
How to Use
Fill in the citation fields with the source's bibliographic information, choose your required citation style, and paste your own reading notes into [SOURCE_SUMMARY] — even rough bullet points work. The model will format the citation correctly and draft the annotation. Always verify the formatted citation against your institution's style guide, as edge cases (edited volumes, translated works, etc.) may need manual adjustment.
Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| [CITATION_INFO_AUTHORS] | Author name(s) in full — e.g., "Smith, J. A. & Lee, K." |
| [CITATION_INFO_TITLE] | Full title of the work |
| [CITATION_INFO_YEAR] | Year of publication |
| [CITATION_INFO_PUBLICATION] | Journal name, publisher, or website name |
| [CITATION_INFO_URL] | DOI or URL if applicable, or leave blank |
| [CITATION_STYLE] | Your required style — APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard, etc. |
| [SOURCE_SUMMARY] | Your own notes on what the source covers — bullet points are fine |
| [YOUR_RESEARCH_TOPIC] | The topic or thesis your bibliography supports |
Tips
- Write your own notes in [SOURCE_SUMMARY] before running this prompt — it forces you to engage with the source and ensures the annotation reflects your actual reading, not a generic description.
- After generating, check that the annotation does not exceed your institution's word limit (some programs specify 100 words, others 250) and trim accordingly.