Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example

Literature reviews and annotated bibliography are significant elements of research work. The similarities between a literature review and an annotated bibliography are the main source of contradiction between them. The purpose of a literature review is different from that of an annotated bibliography and, this stands out as the main difference between them. However, both are critical in research papers and thesis and their choice depends on the requirements (Larocque, 2009). This paper will analyze the difference and similarities between annotated bibliographies and literature reviews. The paper will also look at the experiences of preparing a literature review. 

Both literature reviews and annotated bibliography provided an ordered list of sources used to write a research paper or a thesis. Most research works are based on works or findings of other scholars. The findings can either be applied in the qualitative or quantitative surveys that are carried out through such scholarly works. This indicates that using ideas or information from other researchers is unavoidable. Annotated bibliographies and literature reviews enable a scholar to acknowledge other scholars who provided a basis for their research work. In addition, through literature reviews and annotated bibliographies, scholars are able to give the basis or the foundation of their research topic (Fink, 2009). This is achieved by giving a description of previous research on other related topics.

Despite the outstanding similarities between the two, literature reviews are not annotated bibliographies. The annotated bibliography contains an ordered list of sources used in the research works and their respective authors. In addition, annotated bibliographies give a short description that highlights the relevance of those sources in the research work. On the other hand, the literature review is an essay containing background information about the different sources used in research work. The description that accompanies a source in a literature review informs the reader about the quality and relevance of the source to the study. Literature reviews also include important factors or points from the source that has been applied to the work. Thus, a literature review summarizes and analyzes already existing arguments and deductions. Precisely, annotated bibliography presents facts about different sources used to write the research work while literature reviews provide a brief summary, evaluation, and analysis about different ideas, topics, and arguments contained in the source.

Different sources have different implications for the resultant research work. The author has the responsibility of informing the readers about the credibility of different sources used in the research. Authors use annotated bibliographies to inform the readers about the accuracy, relevance, and quality of the source used in research work (Fink, 2009). On the other hand, literature reviews are used to inform the readers of the pros and cons of the sources in relation to the research topic. In a literature review, an author or a researcher has the ability to criticize the source by highlighting the missing elements. In addition, literature reviews give the direction or trend of future research work based on different sources used in the research.

Finally, a literature review places a particular research work in its immediate context. This implies that in a literature review, a researcher provides a succession of ideas on a particular research topic. This makes it possible for the researcher to identify a gap in knowledge or ideas that can be filled by the present research work. In addition, a literature review provides a response to particular problems that can be used to improve the discipline. This enables the author to create a case for further investigation. On the other hand, an annotated bibliography provides criticism of different sources based on their quality in relation to the research work. Unlike annotated bibliographies, a literature review has a thesis statement that guides the author.

While completing a literature review based on the literature review matrices, the following factors were found to be essential.

• The main argument presented in a source is critical for literature reviews. When completing the exercise I had trouble in identifying the main argument from a given source.
• Identifying the argument or the approach applied by a researcher on a particular research work, determines the methodology and analysis procedure required to complete the literature review.
• When analyzing a source it is sufficient to consider the missing elements or links in a particular research area instead of concentrating on what is already known. Therefore, a well-compiled literature review emphasizes the factors that can contribute to the relevance and quality of the research work as well as the sources.
• A literature review should not include opinions, views, or beliefs of the author but it should be constructed from facts contained in a particular source in relation to the research topic.