Skip to main content

Mode of preparing a Bibliography, Classification of Entries, Bibliography Entries compared with Footnotes, Examples of Bibliography Entries

 

Mode of Preparing a Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of all the sources you consulted during your research, placed at the end of your research report, paper, or thesis. It includes books, articles, websites, and other materials that contributed to your work, whether you cited them directly or not. The purpose of the bibliography is to give credit to the sources used and help readers locate the information for further reference.

Steps in Preparing a Bibliography:

  1. Collect Citation Details:

    • Gather the necessary details for each source, such as the author’s name, title, publisher, date of publication, and page numbers (for articles or chapters).

  2. Arrange Entries:

    • Organize the bibliography entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
    • If a work has no author, alphabetize it by the title, ignoring “The,” “A,” or “An.”

  3. Follow Citation Style:

    • Choose the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) as required by your discipline or instructor.
    • Ensure consistency in formatting throughout the bibliography.

  4. Indentation:

    • Most styles require a hanging indent for bibliography entries, where the first line is aligned to the left, and the subsequent lines are indented.

Classification of Entries

Bibliography entries are classified based on the type of source being cited. Common types include books, journal articles, websites, and edited volumes.

Common Categories of Bibliography Entries:

  1. Books:

    • Includes both authored and edited books.
    • Example: Smith, John. Research Methods in Social Sciences. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

  2. Journal Articles:

    • Includes articles from academic or professional journals.
    • Example: Smith, John. "Trends in Research Methodology." Journal of Social Research, vol. 45, no. 3, 2020, pp. 234–245.

  3. Chapters in Edited Books:

    • Cites a specific chapter in a book that has different authors for each chapter.
    • Example: Smith, John. "The Role of Methodology in Research." In Research in the Humanities, edited by Jane Doe, 45–67. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

  4. Websites:

    • Include the full URL and the date of access (if required by the citation style).
    • Example: Smith, John. "Research Trends in 2020." Research Journal Online. Accessed March 10, 2020. http://www.researchjournal.com.

  5. Government Documents:

    • Cite reports, papers, or publications from government agencies.
    • Example: U.S. Department of Education. Educational Research Report 2020. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2020.

Bibliography Entries Compared with Footnotes

Bibliography entries and footnotes are both ways to cite sources, but they serve different purposes and are formatted differently.

Comparison:

AspectBibliographyFootnotes/Endnotes
PurposeLists all sources consulted or cited, at the end of the workProvides source details and sometimes additional comments at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or end of the document (endnotes)
FormatFull citation format with all publication detailsShortened format after the first citation; may use "Ibid." for consecutive citations
PlacementAt the end of the documentFootnotes: Bottom of each page
Endnotes: At the end of the document
Alphabetical OrderYes, organized by author’s last nameNo, citations appear in the order they are cited in the text
UsageUsed to give full source details and to list sources consultedUsed to give detailed citations as you go along in the text

Examples:

  • Footnote (Chicago Style, first citation):

    • ¹ John Smith, Research Methods in Social Sciences (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 45.

  • Footnote (Chicago Style, subsequent citation):

    • ² Smith, Research Methods, 78.

  • Bibliography entry (Chicago Style):

    • Smith, John. Research Methods in Social Sciences. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

Examples of Bibliography Entries

Here are some examples of bibliography entries for different types of sources, formatted in three common citation styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago.

1. Books:

  • APA:
    • Smith, J. (2020). Research methods in social sciences. Academic Press.
  • MLA:
    • Smith, John. Research Methods in Social Sciences. Academic Press, 2020.
  • Chicago:
    • Smith, John. Research Methods in Social Sciences. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

2. Journal Articles:

  • APA:
    • Smith, J. (2020). Trends in research methodology. Journal of Social Research, 45(3), 234–245.
  • MLA:
    • Smith, John. "Trends in Research Methodology." Journal of Social Research, vol. 45, no. 3, 2020, pp. 234–245.
  • Chicago:
    • Smith, John. "Trends in Research Methodology." Journal of Social Research 45, no. 3 (2020): 234–245.

3. Chapter in Edited Books:

  • APA:
    • Smith, J. (2020). The role of methodology in research. In J. Doe (Ed.), Research in the humanities (pp. 45–67). Academic Press.
  • MLA:
    • Smith, John. "The Role of Methodology in Research." Research in the Humanities, edited by Jane Doe, Academic Press, 2020, pp. 45–67.
  • Chicago:
    • Smith, John. "The Role of Methodology in Research." In Research in the Humanities, edited by Jane Doe, 45–67. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

4. Website:

Conclusion

  • Mode of preparing a bibliography involves organizing all consulted sources in a structured, alphabetical list following the required citation style.
  • Classification of entries depends on the type of source (book, article, website, etc.).
  • Bibliography vs. Footnotes: Bibliographies list all sources, while footnotes provide source details within the text as references.
  • Examples of bibliography entries show how to correctly cite various types of sources in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.

By following these guidelines, you can properly cite sources and create a comprehensive bibliography for your research work.

Comments

Post a Comment