How to Do a Bibliography for a Research Paper

Citing all of the sources you used in a research paper is vital to a good grade. It can prevent issues of plagiarism if all sources are properly cited both in the paper and in the works cited page. Often, a good grade will at least partly depend upon a correctly formatted bibliography. This is one of those instances where meticulous attention to detail will really pay off. The MLA or Modern Language Association style cited here is the most commonly used style for academic papers. It should be noted that your professor may require the use of another style such as AP or APA and her requirements should be confirmed with her.

Things You'll Need

  • Your research paper document
  • Sources of your research
  • Current MLA handbook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the document in your preferred word processor.

    • 2

      At the end of the document, create a new page, continuing the same format as the rest of your research paper, including the double spacing.

    • 3

      At the top of the page, center the title "Works Cited" without italicizing or putting it in quotation marks.

    • 4

      Format the page so that each line after the first for every entry indents five spaces to create a hanging indent.

    • 5

      For each entry, list the author by last name, first name and then middle name or initial followed by a period. It will look like this: Obama, Barack.

    • 6

      Cite the article or paper title ending with a period encompassed by quotation marks, if applicable. Follow up the specific source with the main source---the magazine, book or website title---in italics ending with a period. It will look like this: "iGeneration." MacWorld.

    • 7

      List the source's date of publication in the day-month-year format ending with a colon, then list the pages used followed by a period. End the citation with the medium of publication. If it is a website, then also list the date of access. It will look like this: 11 Sept. 2001: 3-15. Web. 2 Feb. 2009.

    • 8

      Go to the next line to cite a new entry. Repeat steps five through eight for each work cited.

    • 9

      Alphabetize the works cited according to the first letter of each entry.

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