What is a Bibliography?
A Bibliography
- is the list of all of the resources used to write your paper.
- is at the end of a report or research paper.
- gives credit to the sources of the information used.
- is alphabetized by each entry.
- is necessary to avoid plagiarism.
What is usually included in a bibliography?
- author of the book or article
- the title of the book or article
- publisher
- city of the publisher
- date of publication
- page numbers
- for the internet or other resources, additional items are needed
How to Write a Bibliography
- Center the word Bibliography (capitalized) on top of a new page.
- Start entries at the left side margin.
- If the entry is more than one line long, the rest of the lines are indented.
- All sources should be arranged alphabetically by author (or title, if no author appears in the entry).
- Skip at least one line in between each entry.
Please note:
- All the punctuation used in this section is the same punctuation used when writing your bibliography!
- In the examples, when it says italics, it might also be underlined.
- Your teacher may want titles in italics rather than underlined.
- Ask the teacher which format is preferred!
SPECIFIC CITATIONS--MLA Style
Author. (Last name first) Title . (italics) City where book is published: Publisher, copyright date.
Example; Rylant, Cynthia. Blue Eyed Daisy.
New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.
If there is more than one author: Write the first author, last name first, and the second author, first name first. Title. (italics) City where book is published:
Publisher, copyright date.
Example: Murphy, Barbara and Merv Brown. How to Skin a
Cat. Chicago: Lippincott, 1994.
ENCYCLOPEDIAS:
Print Encyclopedias:
How to cite an unsigned article in an encyclopedia:
"Article Title." (in quotation marks) Title of the Reference Book . (in italics) Edition. Date published.
Example: “Dogs.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. 1993.
How to cite a signed article in an encyclopedia (an author is noted at the end of the article):
Author. "Article Title." (in quotation marks) Title of the Reference Book.. (in italics) Edition. Date published.
Example: Jones, Mary. “Cows.” World Book
Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. 1993.
Online Encyclopedias:
Author. "Article Title." Name of encyclopedia. (in italics) Online. Title of Database or Online Service. Date of access.(day month year.) Address or URL.
Example: Krakoff, Irwin H. “Cancer.” Encyclopedia
Americana. Online. Encyclopedia
Americana. 23 February 1998.
<http://www.gogrolier.com>
MAGAZINE ARTICLES: Author. "Title." Name of magazine. (in italics) Date of magazine: page numbers.
Example: Sandel, Michael J. “America’s Search for a New
Public Philosophy.” The Atlantic Monthly.
March 1006:57-74.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES: Author. "Title." Name of Newspaper (in italics) Date of newspaper (day month year), section: page.
Example: Goldberg, Grace. The Inside Track: Alumni
Life.” Trojan Times 10 Oct. 1009, sec. A:3.
ALMANAC: "Article Title." (in quotation marks) Title of Almanac (in italics) and year.
Example: “The World’s Refugees.” The World Almanac
and Book of Facts 1995.
ELECTRIC LIBRARY or other online databases
Magazine Article: Author. "Article Title." (in quotation marks.) Name of Magazine (in italics) Date of article. (day month year.) Electric Library or name of database (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (address or URL) (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: Leo, John. “Your Own Lincoln Bedroom.” U.S.
News & World Report 17 Mar. 1997.
Electric Library
1997).
Newspaper article: Author or authors. (Last name first on first author, first name first on other authors.) "Name of article, headline title, and subtitles." (in quotation marks.) Name of Newspaper (in italics) date of newspaper, what edition. Electric Library (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: Bunting, Glenn F, and Ralph Frammolino.
“Up to 900 Donors Stayed Overnight at
White House Campaign: Many Clinton
Backers Used Lincoln Bedroom, official
says. Numbers are called ’staggering.’”
Los Angeles Times 9 Feb. 1997, home ed:
A-1. Electric Library
Book Section: Author. "Title of Chapter: chapter number and Section Title." Book Title . (in italics) Year published. Electric Library (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: Drew, Col. Dennis M. and Dr. Donald M.
Snow. The Eagle’s Talons: Chapter 5A
World War II.” U.S. History. 1009. Electric
(17 April 1997).
TV or Radio Transcript: "Name of Program" (in quotations) Name of series (in italics) Date of program's airing, Electric Library (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: “Nightly Business Report” Nightly Business
Report 13 Mar. 1997, Electric Library
1997).
Map: Name of Map. (in italics) Map. Source of Map, date of map. Electric Library (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: Costa Rica. Map. MGMaps of the World, 1 Jan.
1996. Electric Library
1997).
Pictures: Name of picture. (in italics) Photograph. Source of picture, date of original picture. Electric Library (in italics) <http://www.elibrary.com> (date accessed in parentheses).
Example: WWII; Churchill, Truman and Stalin.
Photograph. Archive Photos, 1 Jan.
1940. Electric Library
1997).
Audiovisuals
FILMS, SLIDES, AND VIDEOTAPES: Title . (in italics) Medium (film, videocassette, etc.). Production company, date. Time length.
Example: How to Ski the Big One. Videocassette.
Breckenridge Productions, 1994. 60 min.
CD ROM: Author or editor if known. "Name of article." (in quotations) Title and version . (in italics) City where published: Name of Publisher, date.
Example: Sedimentary Rocks.” Earth Quest. CD ROM.
New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1997.
Internet:
WEB SITE: Author. (last name first, if known) "Title of Article." Name of source or web site. Date site last updated. (in parentheses) Online. Web site address. (Access date in parentheses).
Example: Jones, Mary. “Explorers of Yesteryear.”
Colorado University History Department.
(1996) Online
(November 12, 1997).
Interviewee. (person who was interviewed) Type of interview. (i.e. personal, telephone) Date of interview. (day month), Year.
Example: Mel Gibson. Telephone interview. 27
September, 1998.