What is a Bibliography?
A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used in your project, formatted in a consistent style. It allows your readers to find the information you used and verify its credibility.
Key Elements
* Author: Last name, first name (or organization name if no author).
* Title: Full title of the source.
* Publication Details: This varies depending on the source type (book, website, journal article).
* Date: The year of publication.
* Retrieval Information: For online sources, include the URL and date you accessed it.
Common Styles
* MLA (Modern Language Association): Commonly used for literature, humanities, and arts.
* APA (American Psychological Association): Typically used for social sciences, education, and psychology.
* Chicago Manual of Style: Often used for history, business, and the humanities.
* CSE (Council of Science Editors): Common in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
How to Write a Bibliography
1. Choose a Style: Your teacher or project instructions will specify the required citation style. If not, choose one that's widely accepted in your subject area.
2. Gather Your Sources: Create a list of all the books, websites, articles, videos, etc., you used in your project.
3. Use a Citation Generator: Online tools like EasyBib, Citation Machine, and Zotero can help you format citations correctly. Be sure to double-check the accuracy of the generated citations.
4. Organize Alphabetically: List your sources alphabetically by the first word in the entry (usually the author's last name).
5. Be Consistent: Maintain a consistent format for all your entries within the chosen style.
6. Use Hanging Indentation: Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry to make the bibliography easier to read.
Example: MLA Format
Book
Smith, John. *The History of the United States.* New York: Penguin Books, 2001.
Website
"Climate Change." *National Geographic*, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/. Accessed 15 May 2023.
Journal Article
Johnson, Lisa. "The Impact of Social Media on Youth." *Journal of Communication Studies*, vol. 54, no. 2, 2022, pp. 125-140.
Tips for Success
* Start Early: Don't wait until the last minute to create your bibliography.
* Record Citations as You Go: Keep track of your sources as you research so you don't have to hunt them down later.
* Proofread Carefully: Check for errors in spelling, punctuation, and formatting.
Let me know if you want to see example bibliographies in other styles!