How to Write a Bibliography
What is a Bibliography?
A bibliography is a list of sources used in an essay. There is a specific format for a bibliography (see how to format your bibliography below). When a paper includes in-text citations, a bibliography is called a "Works Cited" page.
When do I need a Bibliography?
Whenever you do research to find information that you use in an essay, you should include a bibliography.
Where do I put the Bibliography?
The bibliography appears on its own page (or pages), after an essay.
What is the Correct Format for my Bibliography?
We recommend using M.L.A. (Modern Languages Association) format for your bibliography. Title your bibliography "Works Cited." Then, using the proper formatting for each type of source, alphabetize your sources.
Here are examples of the correct formats for the most common types of sources:
Basic format for a book:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. Title. Place Published: Publisher, Year Published.
Example:
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Warner Books, 1972.
Basic format for a magazine article:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Article Title." Name of Magazine Date of Magazine: pages.
Example:
Hughes, Carolyn T. "The Art of Persistence." Poets & Writers July/Aug. 2005: 50-53.
Basic format for a newspaper article:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Article Title." Name of Newspaper Date of Newspaper: page(s).
Example:
Regan, Margaret."Found Art." Tucson Weekly Aug. 11-17, 2005: 33.
Basic format for an online source:
"Title of Document (or description such as "Home page" if not titled)." Name of link associated with website. Date posted. <URL> page(s) if document has page numbers. Date site accessed.
Example:
"What You Should Know about State Testing." The Gorman Grapevine. Spring 2005. <http://www2.gormanlc.com/glc/pdf/calendar/Gorman%20Grapevine%20 Spring%202005.pdf> 2-3. 1 Sept. 2005
*Do not indent the first line of each entry; however, if an entry needs more than one line, single space to the second line, and indent the second line. Double-space between entries.
Who do I Contact if I have Questions about my Bibliography?
Help is always available through Gorman's Writing Program. To ask specific questions about creating a bibliography, or about any other aspect of writing, email a Writing Program evaluator at: writing-advice@gormanlc.com
Where do I go for more Information?
It is always a good idea to own a writing "style guide" such as Diana Hacker's Rules for Writers. As well as including guides to the correct format for bibliographies and documentation, these style guides often have sections on many other aspects of writing.
How to Prepare a Works Cited
What is a Works Cited?
A works cited is a list of sources used in an essay. There is a specific format for a works cited (see how to format your works cited below). But what is the difference between a bibliography and a works cited? Not much, really, other than the name. Except there is one significant difference: at the high school level, often times writers are required to submit both a bibliography and a works cited along with a researched essay. In this case, a bibliography includes documentation of ALL sources consulted in the researching and composing of the essay, whereas the works cited documents only those sources cited in the essay. Obviously, then, in this case a bibliography is usually much longer than a works cited.
When do I need a Works Cited?
Whenever you do research to find information that you use in an essay, you must include a works cited or your essay will be considered plagiarized. (To learn more about what plagiarism is, and how to avoid it, see The Plagiarism Page.) Only submit a bibliography along with a works cited if requested. If a writing assignment or prompt does not specify, then only submit a works cited.
Where do I put the Works Cited?
The works cited appears on its own page (or pages), after an essay.
What is the Correct Format for my Works Cited?
We recommend using M.L.A. (Modern Languages Association) format for your bibliography. Title your bibliography "Works Cited." Then, using the proper formatting for each type of source, alphabetize your sources (if a source is anonymous or lacks identification of a person's name, then alphabetize that source by its title).
Here are examples of the correct formats for the most common types of sources:
Basic format for a book:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. Title. Place Published: Publisher, Year Published.
Example:
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. New York: Warner Books, 1972.
Basic format for a magazine article:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Article Title." Name of Magazine Date of Magazine: pages.
Example:
Hughes, Carolyn T. "The Art of Persistence." Poets & Writers July/Aug. 2005: 50-53.
Basic format for a newspaper article:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Article Title." Name of Newspaper Date of Newspaper: page(s).
Example:
Regan, Margaret. "Found Art." Tucson Weekly Aug. 11-17, 2005: 33.
Basic format for an online source:
"Title of Document (or description such as "Home page" if not titled)." Name of link associated with website. Date posted. <URL> page(s) if document has page numbers. Date site accessed.
Example:
"What You Should Know about State Testing." The Gorman Grapevine. Spring 2005. <http://www2.gormanlc.com/glc/pdf/calendar/Gorman%20Grapevine%20Spring%202005.pdf> 2-3. 1 Sept. 2005.
*Do not indent the first line of each entry; however, if an entry needs more than one line, single space to the second line, and indent the second line. Double-space between entries.
Who do I Contact if I have Questions about my Works Cited?
Help is always available through Gorman's Writing Program. To ask specific questions about creating a bibliography, or about any other aspect of writing, email a Writing Program evaluator at: writing-advice@gormanlc.com
Where do I go for more Information?
It is always a good idea to own a writing "style guide" such as Diana Hacker's Rules for Writers. As well as including guides to the correct format for bibliographies, work cited pages, and documentation, these style guides often have sections on many other aspects of writing.
How to do In-Text Citations
When do I need to use In-Text Citations?
Whenever you include any information in an essay that you learned while doing research, you should include in-text citations. As well as using in-text citations for direct quotes, one should also include in-text citations for paraphrased sections, facts, statistics, or any other piece of information that is from a source. We encourage you to start using in-text citations by grade 7.
If I use In-Text Citations, do I still need a Bibliography/Works Cited Page?
Yes. In-text citations will refer readers to the entries in the Works Cited.
How do I Create an In-Text Citation?
There are a few different format types for in-text citation. We recommend using M.L.A. (Modern Languages Association) formatting. The most common way to site a researched source in-text is to create attribution, also called a signal phrase (a phrase that signals who or what is being quoted). Attribution is a phrase or statement that introduces a quotation, fact, statistic, or whatever piece of information is being used. Following are two examples of how to create an in-text citation (one with a signal phrase, one without).
Author Named in a Signal Phrase
Aldo Leopold concisely states that "wilderness is a resource which can shrink but not grow (278)."
The quote is taken from page 278. Leopold is the name of the author (Aldo Leopold); the first time an author is referred to, cite the full name, but thereafter use only the last name. Corresponding to the in-text citation, there will also be an entry in the Works Cited under Leopold, which would look like this:
Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1966.
Author Not Named in a Signal Phrase
By 1962, the United States Office of Plant Introduction had already imported about 200,000 species of non-native plants (Carson 21).
The statistic is taken from page 21 of the source by the author Carson. There will also be an entry in the Works Cited under Carson, then, for the reader to reference. The Works Cited entry would look like this:
Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1962.
Who do I Contact if I have Questions about In-Text Citations?
Help is always available through Gorman's Writing Program. To ask specific questions about documenting your sources with in-text citations, or about any other aspect of writing, email a Writing Program evaluator at: writing-advice@gormanlc.com .
Where do I go for more Information?
It is always a good idea to own a writing style guide such as Diana Hacker's Rules for Writers. As well as including guides to the correct format for bibliographies and documentation, these style guides often have sections on many other aspects of writing.