Examples of Chicago Style Bibliography Example

Explore practical examples of Chicago Style bibliography formats for your research papers.
By Jamie

Understanding Chicago Style Bibliography

When writing academic papers, properly formatting your references is crucial for maintaining credibility and ensuring clarity. The Chicago Manual of Style offers two systems for citing sources: Notes and Bibliography, and Author-Date. Here, we’ll focus on the Bibliography format, providing three diverse examples that illustrate how to correctly cite various types of sources.

1. Book Citation

Context

Books are a fundamental source in academic research. Properly citing them ensures that readers can locate the original work.

In this example, we will cite a well-known book in the field of psychology.

Example:
Smith, John. Understanding Human Behavior. New York: Psychology Press, 2020.

This citation includes the author’s name, the title of the book in italics, the place of publication, the publisher, and the year of publication. It’s essential to place a period after each element for clarity.

Notes

  • Ensure that the title is in italics.
  • If the book has multiple authors, list them in the order they appear on the title page.
  • For editions other than the first, include the edition after the title (e.g., 2nd ed.).

2. Journal Article Citation

Context

Journal articles are critical for accessing current research findings. Citing them accurately is essential in supporting your own arguments.

In this example, we will cite an article from a peer-reviewed journal.

Example:
Doe, Jane. “The Impact of Social Media on Youth Engagement.” Journal of Public Affairs 15, no. 3 (2021): 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1234/jpa.2021.003.

This includes the author’s name, article title in quotes, journal name in italics, volume and issue numbers, year of publication, page range, and the DOI link. Each component is separated by a period for organization.

Notes

  • Always include a DOI link if available, as it provides a permanent and accessible address for the article.
  • If the article has multiple authors, list them in the order they appear.

3. Website Citation

Context

With the increasing reliance on digital resources, citing websites correctly is crucial for academic integrity. Proper citations help verify the information used in your research.

In this example, we will cite a reputable website that provides educational resources.

Example:
Taylor, Emily. “The Importance of Financial Literacy in Schools.” National Education Association. Last modified January 15, 2022. https://www.nea.org/financial-literacy.

Here, the citation consists of the author’s name, the title of the webpage in quotes, the website name in italics, the last modified date, and the URL. Each part is clearly delineated for easy understanding.

Notes

  • Include the author’s name if available; if not, start with the title.
  • Always provide the last modified date if it is present, as it indicates the currency of the information.

By adhering to these examples of Chicago Style bibliography format, you can ensure that your academic writing is clear, accurate, and credible. Proper citations not only give credit to original authors but also guide your readers in their research journey.