Bibliography Formats
A bibliography is a list of references used when writing a report. This list appears on a separate page (or slide) at the end of a research report. The purpose of a bibliography is to allow other people to look at or check the references you used. Your bibliography will help others find appropriate resources, and can be a starting place for those who are researching a similar subject.
Failure to list a source may be considered plagiarism, or taking credit for work that is not your own. Plagiarism is a serious offense, so remember to use your own words when you write your reports, and list every reference you use in your bibliography.
Bibliographies are arranged in alphabetical order by author last name. Books and encyclopedias should be listed first. Magazine or newspaper articles are listed next, and web sites are listed last. The information below shows formats for different types of bibliographic entries.
BOOK WITH ONE AUTHOR
Author last name, author first name. Title of Book. Place published: Publisher, date.
Bunny, Bugs. How to Outsmart the Rabbit Hunter. Mankato, Minnesota:
Rabbit World, Inc., 2007.
BOOK WITH TWO AUTHORS
First author last name, author first name, and Second author first and last names. Title of Book. Place published: Publisher, date.
Fudd, Elmer and Bugs Bunny. Life with Rascally Rabbits. New York: Carrot City Press, 1985.
BOOK WITH THREE OR MORE AUTHORS
First author last name, author first name, et. al. Title of Book. Place published: Publisher, date.
Fudd, Elmer, et. al. The World’s Best Rabbit Hunters. New York: Carrot City Press, 1985. (et. al. is a Latin abbreviation for “and others")
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Contributor last name, contributor first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Encyclopedia. Place published: Publisher, year edition.
Seed, Patricia, Ph.D. “Magellan, Ferdinand.” World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2008 ed.
WEB SITE
Author (if known). “Title of Article.” (if known) Title of Web Site, Copyright date. (earliest date if given as something like 2000-2006) Location Address (URL)
Col, Jeananda. “Ferdinand Magellan: World Explorer.” Enchanted Learning, 2002. http://www.enchantedlearning.com.
Google and Yahoo are not internet sources. They are search engines which lead to resources. After finding an image on Google Images, locate the web site from which the image was taken. Also, do not use Wikipedia or similar sources. Check with your teacher to ensure that you are using a reliable resource.
•An author may or may note be listed.
•Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the copyright date or the latest update.
•The format above is a simple way of listing a web site, assuming all information is given. If an author or article title is not included, then give the name of the web site, copyright date, and location address.
© 2009 Booksin Elementary