a.Purpose and Scope:
- Bibliography: A bibliography provides a comprehensive list of all the sources an author has consulted in their research, regardless of whether they were directly cited or not. It is more extensive than a works cited list and includes materials that informed the research but were not specifically referenced.
- Works Cited: A works cited list consists only of the sources that are directly cited or referenced within the text of a paper or research document. It includes the sources an author has consulted and used to support their arguments, discussions, or findings.
b. Format and Presentation:
- Bibliography: A bibliography typically follows a specific style guide, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago Manual of Style. The formatting requirements for bibliographies can vary depending on the style guide used, but they usually include details such as the author's name, title of the source, publication date, and publisher information.
- Works Cited: Works cited lists also adhere to a specific style guide, but the formatting requirements can differ from bibliographies. Some style guides may require different information to be included, such as page numbers or website URLs, if applicable.
c. Placement:
- Bibliography: A bibliography is typically placed at the end of a research paper or book, while a works cited list is placed on a separate page.
d. Completeness:
- Bibliography: Bibliographies are generally more complete and may even include sources not cited in the text, as long as they were consulted during the research process. Works cited lists, on the other hand, only contain sources that are directly cited or referenced within the document.
e. Order:
- Bibliography: Bibliographies may be arranged alphabetically by the author's last name, chronologically, or by category, depending on the style guide.
- Works Cited: Works cited lists are organized in the order in which they are cited within the text.
In summary, a bibliography is a comprehensive list of all sources consulted during research, while a works cited list contains only the sources directly cited or referenced in the text. Both are important components of academic writing, but they serve different purposes and have distinct guidelines and formatting requirements.