What is an annotated bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources accompanied by annotations or short descriptions of how you used the source in your project. It tells the reader the number, quality, and range of sources used to create your project and why they were valuable to understanding your topic. 

An annotated bibliography is required for all categories. Your annotated bibliography must follow these requirements:

• List all sources that you consulted in developing your entry.
• Combine photos or other materials from the same collection into a single citation.
• Separate your bibliography into two sections: one for primary sources and one for secondary sources.
• Do not attach primary or secondary materials to your annotated bibliography.
• Do not include your annotated bibliography in the word count.
• Each annotation must be no more than two or three sentences.

What is a process paper? 

A process paper is a description of how you conducted your research, developed your topic idea, and created your entry. The process paper must also explain the relationship of your topic to the contest theme.

A process paper is required for projects in every category. The process paper must be 500 words or fewer, and must not include quotes, images, or captions. The process paper words are counted separately and are not part of the word count in the paper, exhibit, or website categories. Your process paper must answer the following questions:

• How did you choose your topic and how does it relate to the annual theme?
• How did you conduct your research?
• How did you create your project?
• What is your historical argument?
• In what ways is your topic significant in history?