How to Create a Bibliography for a Web Site

Writing a bibliography for a website differs slightly from print. It is essential that any reference material or sources mentioned must be placed on the site. Use the instructions below to create a bibliography for your website.

Things You'll Need

• Formatting and Style Guide book depending on which is appropriate for the site:
• • MLA
• • APA
• • Chicago

Instructions

1. As you research and retrieve various information and opinions on your particular focus, record all publication information. Create a specific computer file listing sources. Make changes as you go.

2. Each print citation must include the author's last name and first; the title of the book or article, underlined; the place of publication, followed by a colon; the publisher and the date of publication. Example: Levesque, Dawn Renée. Women Who Walk With the Sky. Solon: Polar Bear & Company, 2002.

3. When citing an email, write down the author of the message. Place the date of correspondence in parenthesis. Underline the subject of the email message. Type in the email address. Example: Bard, Jon. (2 May 2007). How to Thrill an Editor. email: [e-mail].

4. If you're using another website, underline the site's name. Type the date of the last update. Indicate the author, last name first. Finally, note the date on which you surfed the site, followed by its URL. Example: Britain's Bayeux Tapestry at the Museum of Reading. 2005. Reading Borough Council. 21May2001 <http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/>.

5. For Internet article references: Start with the author. Put the title of the article in quotes. Italicize the name of the website. Write the publication date, followed by the URL. Lastly, insert the date you visited the site. Example: Wood, Robert A.. "Food Allergies Are Nothing To Laugh About." The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. The Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. <http://www.foodallergy.org/media/HotTopics/latimes.html>. 15 Jan 2009.

6. For the final bibliography, list all source citations (articles, CD-ROMs, email, online encyclopedias and text) in alphabetical order by title.

Tips & Warnings

• • The above steps are the basics on citing a source for a website. For further examples and explanation, see Resources below. • Not all sources will have complete specifics for your bibliography. Pass over any portions you are absolutely unable to find. Consider your bibliography complete. • Remember, always put < > around the URL.

• Keep track of every source of information you obtain to avoid a problem later on.

Resources

• Landmarks Son of Citation Machine
• Bibliography Write
• A Research Guide for Students