Sample Bibliographies

Sample Bibliographies: Three Systems of Documentation

In a perfect world, all professions would use one system to note their sources. Currently, however, dozens of systems of documentation exist, with all of them providing a convenient "shorthand" that acknowledges sources and suggests additional readings.

Fortunately, professional associations have issued handbooks that detail their "house" systems; the three bibliographies below list references from three different handbooks, The MLA Handbook, Turabian's A Manual for Writers, and the APA's Publication Manual.

In the examples that follow, note that Barnes' article comes from a weekly magazine, and thus uses the same form as would a newspaper article. Cook's article is from a "scholarly journal." Lannon's work is a book, while Leap's article comes from a book containing the work of several authors. Can you spot the differences between the citations in the three different formats?

Bibliography (MLA Handbook 5th Ed.)

Barnes, Fred. "Finest Hour." New Republic 11 Feb. 1991: 14-16.

Cook, Eleanor. "Reading Typologically, For Example, Faulkner." American Literature 63

(Dec. 1991): 693-711.

Lannon, John M. Technical Writing. Glenview: Scott-Foresman, 1988.

Leap, William L. "American Indian Languages." Language in the USA. Ed. Charles

A. Ferguson and Shirley Brice Heath. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1981.

Bibliography (Turabian's A Manual for Writers).

Barnes, Fred. "Finest Hour." New Republic, 11 February 1991: 14-16.

Cook, Eleanor. "Reading Typologically, For Example, Faulkner." American Literature 63 (December 1991): 693-711.

Leap, William L. "American Indian Languages." Language in the USA. Ed. Charles A. Ferguson and Shirley Brice Heath, 116-144. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

Lannon, John M. Technical Writing. Glenview, Ill: Scott-Foresman Co, 1988.

References (American Psychological Assn- APA Style)

Barnes, F. (1991, February 11). Finest hour. New Republic, pp.14-16.

Cook, E. (1991). Reading typologically, for example, Faulkner. American Literature, 63, 693-711.

Lannon, J. (1988). Technical writing (4th ed.). Glenview, IL: Scott-Foresman.

Leap, W. (1981). American indian languages. In Charles A. Ferguson and Shirley Brice Heath, Language in the USA (1st. ed.) (pp. 116-144). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Writer's Web can only begin to differentiate these ways of documenting sources; each system has dozens of other rules and exceptions. You should visit the Writing Center to look at complete copies of handbooks; all three reference books are on reserve in the Boatwright Library.

Pointers when Documenting Sources

Don't forget to accurately record bibliographic information when you're in the library (including page numbers, places of publication, etc.). You'll save yourself hours if you take careful notes.
Watch the details, such as commas, abbreviations, and pagination. Mistakes here will affect your grade.
Do not assume that documentation does not matter! Many professors pay close attention to it, because without careful documentation, a reader who wanted to do additional reading about your topic could never follow your bibliography or reference list.

Need more help? See Writer's Web's materials about using quotations and paraphrases.

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