Before you can begin to focus on the context of what you will write, it is important to define what document design and format you will choose. Klein and Shackelford bring up design principles by using the acronym CRAP. It sounds odd but when it is broken down it makes sense.
The C means contrast and refers to differences on a page. The way I would break it down is anything that purposely draws attention to some part of the page by using bolded letters, highlights, or other tools.
The R in CRAP represents repetition. Using repetition can help readers expect what is to come. For example, consistently using a phrase or a graphic text box at the end of a section could prompt readers to know what to look for.
The last two letters stand for alignment and proximity which to me go well together. Alignment I see as something aesthetic but also important for keeping readers attention. This could mean using borders and seeing what text is justified or not. Proximity relates to space and how it is used to convey ideas as a whole. This could mean using paragraph breaks to separate where one idea ends and another begins.
The rest of the article had a focus on MLA format which is something I have not used much as a communication major. Although MLA was really the first format style I learned as early as late elementary or maybe early middle school.
I agree with Klein and Shackelford that knowing your format really sets you up for success before doing any research, especially an annotated bibliography. Without knowing your format and then simply writing away, I would imagine that being a messy and difficult process.
My recommendation if you are ever unsure about what you should use and especially how to use a format style, is to check with Purdue Owl. I have been using this source for about as long as I can remember writing academically. So as important as it is to know what goes into formatting and document design, I believe that Purdue Owl tends to do a better breakdown than most sources and has always helped me when I forget perhaps what an in-text citation should look like in MLA or APA.
For more about document design check out another blog post.
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