Best examples of how to write annotations for websites

Start with real examples of how to write annotations for websites

Before talking about rules or formats, it helps to see what a finished annotation for a website actually looks like. Below are short, realistic samples you can adapt. Each one follows the usual pattern: citation, brief summary, evaluation, and how you might use the source.

Example of a short academic-style website annotation (APA)

Citation (APA):
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 15). Mental health. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/

Annotation (about 120 words):
This CDC webpage provides an overview of mental health, common disorders, warning signs, and links to resources for support and treatment. The content is written for a general audience but is grounded in current public health research and national statistics. Because the site is maintained by a U.S. federal agency, it is regularly updated and carefully reviewed, which increases its reliability for research. For my paper on college student stress, I will use this page to define mental health and to support claims about the prevalence of anxiety and depression in young adults. The site’s clear explanations and links to additional resources make it a strong starting point for readers who are new to the topic.

This is one of the best examples of how to write annotations for websites that are official, research-based, and aimed at the public.

Example of an MLA-style annotation for a university website

Citation (MLA):
Harvard University. “Guide to Using Sources.” Harvard College Writing Center, 2023, https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/using-sources.

Annotation (about 130 words):
This Harvard Writing Center page explains how to integrate sources into academic writing, covering quotation, paraphrase, summary, and citation. The guidance is written for undergraduate students and emphasizes academic integrity, with clear examples of acceptable and unacceptable use of sources. Because it comes from a respected university writing program, the advice is highly credible and aligns with current expectations in U.S. higher education. I will use this site to support my discussion of plagiarism and responsible research practices in my education class project. The concrete examples and student-friendly tone also make this a helpful resource to share with classmates who are learning how to work with sources for the first time.

If you need examples of how to write annotations for websites run by universities, this one shows how to highlight credibility and audience.

Example of a critical annotation for a health information website

Citation (APA):
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, January 10). Type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/

Annotation (about 140 words):
This Mayo Clinic page describes causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatments for type 2 diabetes. Written by medical professionals and reviewed regularly, the site is a reliable source of up-to-date clinical information for a general audience. The article clearly distinguishes between evidence-based treatments and lifestyle recommendations, and it links to more technical resources for clinicians. However, because the content is designed for patients rather than researchers, it does not provide detailed methodology or raw data. For my public health presentation, I will use this site to explain the condition in accessible language and to support statistics on prevalence and risk factors. I will pair it with peer-reviewed journal articles for more detailed analysis.

This sample shows that the best examples of how to write annotations for websites do more than summarize—they also point out limits.

Example of an annotation for a news website article

Citation (APA):
Zimmer, C. (2024, May 2). How AI is changing medical diagnosis. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/02/health/ai-medical-diagnosis.html

Annotation (about 130 words):
This New York Times article reports on recent uses of artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis, including radiology and dermatology applications. The author interviews physicians, researchers, and patient advocates, presenting both potential benefits and concerns about bias and overreliance on algorithms. As a news piece, the article does not provide original research data, but it synthesizes findings from several recent studies and includes quotes from experts at major medical centers. For my technology and ethics paper, I will use this article to illustrate how AI tools are already affecting everyday clinical decisions and to introduce ethical questions about transparency and accountability. I will treat it as a secondary, journalistic source rather than a primary research study.

When you look for examples of how to write annotations for websites that are news-based, notice how this one labels the source type and purpose.

Example of an annotation for a government data website

Citation (APA):
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Labor force statistics from the Current Population Survey. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/cps/

Annotation (about 150 words):
This Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) site provides access to monthly and annual labor force data, including employment, unemployment, and demographic breakdowns for the United States. Users can generate custom tables, download datasets, and view historical trends. Because the BLS is a U.S. government agency, the data are widely considered authoritative and are frequently cited in economic and policy research. However, interpreting the tables accurately requires some familiarity with survey design and statistical terminology. For my economics research project on youth unemployment, I will use this website to obtain current and historical statistics for people ages 16–24. I will also consult the site’s technical documentation to understand sampling methods and limitations, which I will mention in my methodology section.

This is one of the clearest examples of how to write annotations for websites that mainly provide data, not narrative text.

Example of an annotation for a blog or opinion-based website

Citation (APA):
Nguyen, L. (2023, November 30). Why students should learn to code with real-world projects. EdTech Reflections. https://edtechreflections.org/learn-to-code-projects

Annotation (about 140 words):
In this personal blog post, a high school computer science teacher argues that students learn programming more effectively through project-based work than through isolated drills. The author draws on classroom anecdotes, informal surveys, and references to education research, though the post does not link to specific studies. Because the site is a personal blog, the content reflects one educator’s perspective and is not peer-reviewed. Still, the author’s classroom experience and detailed examples provide insight into how project-based learning feels in practice. For my education course assignment on teaching methods, I will use this source to represent a practitioner’s viewpoint and to contrast with more formal research articles on project-based learning.

When you study examples of how to write annotations for websites that are opinion-driven, notice how the writer clearly labels bias and limitations.

How to build your own annotations for websites step by step

Now that you’ve seen several examples of how to write annotations for websites, let’s break down the pattern they all follow. Different professors and style guides will tweak the details, but most academic annotations include three parts:

First, the citation.
You start with a full citation in the required style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). For websites, that usually means author or organization, date, title of the page, site name, and URL. If there is no date, you may use “n.d.” (no date) in APA or “Accessed” dates in MLA. Check your style guide or your library’s writing center page; many universities, like Purdue OWL (https://owl.purdue.edu/), publish updated citation examples.

Second, the summary.
In two to four sentences, explain what the website actually does:

What is the main topic or question?
What kind of content is it (news report, data dashboard, FAQ, blog post, tutorial, policy page)?
Who seems to be the intended audience?

Look back at the earlier examples of how to write annotations for websites: each one starts by saying what the page covers and how it’s organized, in plain language.

Third, the evaluation and use.
This is where many students struggle, but it’s also where your annotation becomes valuable. Ask yourself:

Who created this website, and why should anyone trust them (or not)?
How current is the information?
Does the site show bias or a particular agenda?
How will you use this source in your own project?

The best examples of how to write annotations for websites always answer at least some of those questions directly.

More real examples of how to write annotations for websites in different subjects

To give you a wider range of models, here are a few more short samples across topics.

STEM-focused website annotation example

Citation (APA):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2024, September 5). Climate change: How do we know? NASA Global Climate Change. https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

Annotation (about 130 words):
This NASA page summarizes scientific evidence for global climate change, including temperature records, ice mass loss, sea level rise, and ocean warming. It compiles findings from satellite observations and long-term monitoring programs, presenting them in accessible language with interactive graphics. As a U.S. government agency that collaborates with international research institutions, NASA is a highly credible source for climate data. The page is updated periodically to reflect new measurements, which is important for a rapidly evolving field. I will use this site in my environmental science project to provide visual evidence and clear explanations of key indicators of climate change. I will also follow the links to primary research papers for more detailed analysis.

Citation (APA):
Pew Research Center. (2024, March 18). Teens, social media and technology 2024. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/18/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/

Annotation (about 140 words):
This Pew Research Center report presents survey data on U.S. teenagers’ social media use, device ownership, and online habits. The webpage includes summary charts, downloadable datasets, and a detailed methodology section that explains sampling and question wording. Pew is a nonpartisan research organization known for transparent methods and clear reporting, which makes it a strong source for social science projects. For my psychology paper on social media and well-being, I will use this report to describe how frequently teens use different platforms and how those patterns have changed since 2018. I will also refer to the methodology section to discuss survey limitations, such as self-report bias and online sampling.

You can treat both of these as real examples of how to write annotations for websites that combine data, visualizations, and written explanations.

Adapting these examples of how to write annotations for websites to your assignment

Your instructor’s directions matter more than any template online. Some professors want only summary; others want a mix of summary, evaluation, and reflection. Here’s how to adapt the examples above.

If your teacher wants short annotations (50–100 words):
Focus on a one-sentence summary and one to two sentences explaining why the site is useful. For instance, you could shorten the CDC mental health annotation to: a quick overview of the topic, why the CDC is credible, and how you’ll use it.

If your teacher wants longer annotations (150–250 words):
Follow the pattern in the Mayo Clinic or Pew examples. Give more detail about methods, audience, and potential bias, and be specific about how the site fits into your argument or research question.

If you’re mixing books, articles, and websites in one annotated bibliography:
Keep the same structure for every source—citation, summary, evaluation, use—so your reader can easily compare them. Use the examples of how to write annotations for websites here as your model for the web entries, and mirror that structure for print sources.

2024–2025 tips for annotating modern websites

The web changes fast, and so do expectations for evaluating it. When you write annotations for websites in 2024–2025, keep an eye on:

AI-generated or AI-assisted content.
Some sites now use AI to draft or rewrite pages. If a website mentions AI assistance or feels generic, note that in your evaluation. You might say that the content is clear but lacks author information or detailed references, which affects how much weight you give it.

Update dates and version history.
Health and policy information changes quickly. Sites like the National Institutes of Health and CDC usually list “Last updated” dates. In your annotation, mention when the page was last updated and why currency matters for your topic.

Interactive tools and dashboards.
Many official sites now offer maps, calculators, or data dashboards instead of static text. For example, the CDC COVID Data Tracker combines charts, filters, and downloadable data. When you annotate this kind of site, describe the tools available and how you used them (for example, to filter by state or year).

Accessibility and readability.
If your project involves public communication or education, it can help to note whether the site is easy to read, mobile-friendly, or translated into multiple languages. That kind of detail can strengthen your evaluation of how well the site serves its audience.

By weaving these factors into your annotations, you move beyond basic summary and closer to the best examples of how to write annotations for websites that teachers see in upper-level courses.

FAQ about writing annotations for websites

How long should an annotation for a website be?
Most instructors ask for 100–200 words per source, whether it’s a website, book, or article. Always follow the word range in your assignment. If nothing is specified, 120–150 words is usually safe.

Do I need to include the URL in every website annotation?
Yes. In almost every citation style, a functioning URL is expected for online sources. In APA and MLA, the URL appears in the citation, before the annotation itself.

What’s one good example of an annotation for a government website?
The BLS labor statistics sample above is a strong model. It identifies what the site offers (custom data tables), who runs it (a U.S. government agency), and how the student will use it (to gather youth unemployment data). When you look for other examples of how to write annotations for websites, check that they cover those same points.

Can I use Wikipedia in an annotated bibliography?
Only if your instructor allows it, and usually not as a main source. If you do include it, your annotation should clearly state that Wikipedia is a crowd-edited reference site, explain how you used it (for background or links to primary sources), and note that you relied on more authoritative sources for final claims.

Where can I find more examples of how to write annotations for websites?
Many university writing centers post sample annotated bibliographies, including website entries. Try searching for “annotated bibliography examples site:.edu” and look at schools like Purdue, Harvard, or your local community college. Compare their samples to the real examples in this guide and notice the shared structure: citation, summary, evaluation, and use.

If you keep these real, student-ready examples in front of you while you write, your own annotations for websites will come together much faster—and they’ll read like they were written by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.

Best examples of how to write annotations for websites (with templates)