write your annotated bib, noting how your sources work together to answer your research question
Research for your
Annotated Bibliography
Identify search terms and visualize sources
read sources, take notes, choose those that best answer your research question
come up with big, vague idea
develop researchable question
search for, find, and evaluate sources
click on the arrows to see more information
identify specifics
Reading, Thinking, and Synthesizing
Part of the research process is finding and reading or least skimming more sources than you will ultimately use. The key is to determine which sources best answer your specific research question, and also how they work together. In your paper, you and the other authors will be in conversation, finding areas of agreement, disagreement, and new questions. To properly cite and avoid accidental plagiarism, be sure to take notes and include notations of when an idea or a quote is a specific author's and when it is your own.
Revise your research question
Try crafting a revised question with your new, more specific information, starting with "why" or "how." an example of a revised working research question might be: How did indigenous fire practices shape forest ecology in western North America prior to the 20th century? Note how this question addresses who, what, when, where, and how. Note also that you might revise your question as you learn more.
Develop your question
To narrow the question and make it more specific, ask: who? what? when? where?
Write your annotated bibliography
Cite each source in the citation style your professor requests. Summarize the main points of each source. Note how each source answers your research question. Note how each source either builds on, disagrees, or adds a new dimension to the others' ideas.
Coming up with topic ideas
Review your syllabus. When have readings or class discussions intrigued you? What time periods did you enjoy learning about? What environmental issues resonated with you? Are you most interested in topics related to conflict, change over time, technology, policy, cultural beliefs, or something else?
Start finding sources
After you've visualized your ideal sources, start looking. The library catalog has books. Databases like JSTOR, EBSCO, Proquest and Google Scholar have scholarly articles. Research organizations and government websites have datasets. News databases such as Proquest Newspapers, America's Historical News, and Historical New York Times have news accounts. Policy papers and reports are on government and think tank websites. Check with your professor and your librarian for more guidance!
Identifying search words and sources
To start your search, identify significant nouns from your research question. As you search in different search tools, notice the words experts use to describe your topic, and see how using these words changes the sources that come back. Also think about what sources would be most useful for your research question. Are first-hand accounts like memoirs likely to be useful? Datasets? Peer-reviewed articles? News articles? Historical photographs? Also consider whether starting with an overview from a book or encyclopedia might be helpful.
Annotated Bibliography
Lisa Richter
Created on March 31, 2026
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Transcript
write your annotated bib, noting how your sources work together to answer your research question
Research for your
Annotated Bibliography
Identify search terms and visualize sources
read sources, take notes, choose those that best answer your research question
come up with big, vague idea
develop researchable question
search for, find, and evaluate sources
click on the arrows to see more information
identify specifics
Reading, Thinking, and Synthesizing
Part of the research process is finding and reading or least skimming more sources than you will ultimately use. The key is to determine which sources best answer your specific research question, and also how they work together. In your paper, you and the other authors will be in conversation, finding areas of agreement, disagreement, and new questions. To properly cite and avoid accidental plagiarism, be sure to take notes and include notations of when an idea or a quote is a specific author's and when it is your own.
Revise your research question
Try crafting a revised question with your new, more specific information, starting with "why" or "how." an example of a revised working research question might be: How did indigenous fire practices shape forest ecology in western North America prior to the 20th century? Note how this question addresses who, what, when, where, and how. Note also that you might revise your question as you learn more.
Develop your question
To narrow the question and make it more specific, ask: who? what? when? where?
Write your annotated bibliography
Cite each source in the citation style your professor requests. Summarize the main points of each source. Note how each source answers your research question. Note how each source either builds on, disagrees, or adds a new dimension to the others' ideas.
Coming up with topic ideas
Review your syllabus. When have readings or class discussions intrigued you? What time periods did you enjoy learning about? What environmental issues resonated with you? Are you most interested in topics related to conflict, change over time, technology, policy, cultural beliefs, or something else?
Start finding sources
After you've visualized your ideal sources, start looking. The library catalog has books. Databases like JSTOR, EBSCO, Proquest and Google Scholar have scholarly articles. Research organizations and government websites have datasets. News databases such as Proquest Newspapers, America's Historical News, and Historical New York Times have news accounts. Policy papers and reports are on government and think tank websites. Check with your professor and your librarian for more guidance!
Identifying search words and sources
To start your search, identify significant nouns from your research question. As you search in different search tools, notice the words experts use to describe your topic, and see how using these words changes the sources that come back. Also think about what sources would be most useful for your research question. Are first-hand accounts like memoirs likely to be useful? Datasets? Peer-reviewed articles? News articles? Historical photographs? Also consider whether starting with an overview from a book or encyclopedia might be helpful.