1. Choose a Citation Style:
* MLA (Modern Language Association): Commonly used in humanities and language arts.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Prevalent in social sciences, education, and psychology.
* Chicago/Turabian: Offers two styles – Notes & Bibliography and Author-Date. Popular in history, literature, and the arts.
2. In-Text Citations:
* MLA: (Author Last Name Page Number)
* Example: (Smith 12)
* APA: (Author Last Name, Year of Publication)
* Example: (Smith, 2023)
* Chicago/Turabian:
* Notes & Bibliography: Use footnotes or endnotes with a full citation.
* Author-Date: (Author Last Name, Year of Publication)
3. Full Bibliographic Entry:
* MLA:
* Author Last Name, First Name. *Book Title*. Publisher, Year of Publication.
* Example: Smith, John. *The History of the World*. Penguin Books, 2022.
* APA:
* Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). *Book Title*. Publisher.
* Example: Smith, J. (2023). *The History of the World*. Penguin Books.
* Chicago/Turabian:
* Notes & Bibliography:
* Footnote/Endnote: Author Last Name, First Name, *Book Title* (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication), Page Number.
* Bibliography: Author Last Name, First Name. *Book Title*. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
* Author-Date:
* In-text: (Author Last Name, Year of Publication)
* Bibliography: Author Last Name, First Name. *Book Title*. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
4. Key Points:
* Accuracy: Ensure all details are correct (author, title, publisher, year, etc.).
* Consistency: Maintain the same citation style throughout your essay.
* Punctuation: Pay attention to the specific punctuation required by your chosen style.
* Online Resources: Check out citation generators like Purdue OWL (MLA, APA) or EasyBib (multiple styles) for help.
Example:
Let's say you're using MLA and quoting a passage from page 15 of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Here's how you'd incorporate it into your essay:
> “The colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon.” (Fitzgerald 15)
Remember: Always double-check your citations against your chosen style guide for accuracy.