How to Set Up a Bibliography

It is important to note your references properly in a bibliography.

Bibliographies are usually not anyone's favorite part of writing a paper. However, providing a list of references at the end of your paper is essential for giving credit to the sources you used in researching your topic. Your bibliography must list every article, book, movie, website and any other source you consulted or cited in your paper. You can take the angst and mystery out of this crucial task by following a few simple guidelines. With some time and practice, setting up bibliographies will become an easier, more enjoyable part of your writing experience.

Instructions

1. Type or write "Bibliography" on the top of the last page of the paper you have written. This title should be centered.

2. List your references below the "Bibliography" title alphabetically and do not number them. Cite the author's last name; first name; title of the book, article, or website (underlined); city where it was published; publishing house and year it was published. For example, the MLA bibliography style for citing a book is: Author's last name, first name. Book Title (underlined). Publishing City: Publishing House. Year published. If your reference extends more than one line, make sure you indent every additional line five spaces, or 1/2-inch.

3. Double-space your bibliography.

4. Cite an article as a reference in your bibliography in the following format: Author. "Title of article". Name of Publication (underlined). Date of publication: Page number(s).

5. List a film reference as follows: Title of film (underlined). Director of film. Studio that produced the film, year the film was released. If you are referencing a specific actor or individual involved in the film, add the person's name and title of the film to the beginning of the reference.

6. List an Internet article reference as follows: Author. "Title of article". Title of website publication (underlined). Date of publication. <URL>.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the Modern Language Association (MLA) bibliography standards because they are the most common, unless the American Psychology Association (APA) or another format is specified by your instructor. If a reference in your bibliography goes on to the next line, without a reasonable space break, use a dash or hyphen to continue it. If the line breaks on a URL do not add an additional hyphen because this will change the site URL address.

• Be sure to cite any and all sources you used throughout your paper, as well as listing them in your bibliography. Citing and listing your references for ideas that were not your own original thoughts, or common knowledge, keeps your work from being considered plagiarized material.

References

• Ebscohost.com: Student Success Tool How to Write a Bibliography
• Aresearchguide.com: A Research Guide for Students