Below is a sample annotated bibliography written during a workshop attended by students in an introductory English class. The annotated bibliography is on grammar books they examined during class. The annotations are SHORTER than would normally be handed in for a real course project. They are also 1.5 spaced (should be DOUBLE SPACED for a real project).  

Grammar Books: Annotated Bibliography

Elliott, R. (2006). Painless grammar (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Barron’s Educational Series. This book is a practical and hands-on book with exercises for the reader. The coverage includes everything from the eight parts of speech to tips for writing. The book is very helpful for students of English, especially because it shares what to do and what not to do and provides examples of mistakes. Fogarty, M. (2008). Grammar Girl’s quick and dirty tips for better writing. New York, NY: Henry Holt. This book includes a wide variety of information on both basic and challenging grammar topics. It is good because it is easy to read and it has cartoons to illustrate the grammar principles it shares. For example, there is a great cartoon that helps explain the difference between “affect” and “effect” on page nine. Hacker, D. (2009). Rules for writers (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/‌St. Martin’s. This excellent grammar text outlines all the grammar rules that all writers need to know. From its excellent examples to its many exercises to its clear and powerful layout, this book is a standout. This is the text of choice for most college English teachers and writing centers. In that vein, it is the best choice for the college student and life-long learner. Straus, J. (2008). The blue book of grammar and punctuation (10th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. This book shares information about grammar for a wide audience ranging from high school students to college instructors. The book however is written at a high level and may not be easy to read for everyone. Expectations for readers are high and readers will learn their grammar if they put in the effort. Quizzes for self-assessment are a highlight.