Writing a Bibliography

 

General Guidelines  

  • Look on the title page and the copyright page for the information you need.
  • If there is more than one place of publication, choose the first place listed, even if it's a city that's further away.
  • If there is no author, leave it blank.
  • If there is no place, write "N.p."
  • If there is no publisher, write "n.p."
  • If there is no date, write "N.d."
  • If there is more than one copyright date, choose the most recent.
  • Your bibliography pages should be double-spaced.
  • Alphabetize your list by the last name of the author/editor. If there is no author, alphabetize that one by the title of the article or book.

 

Books 

Basic format Author. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.
Examples
Bright, Michael. Eagles. New York: Gloucester, 1990.

Simon, Seymour. Big Cats. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

 
 
Magazines

Basic format Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Date: Pages.
Examples
“Alligators.” Zoobooks Sept. 1995.

Eliot, John L. “Polar Bears.” National Geographic Feb. 2004: 30-47.
  Note: If you are using the entire magazine, you do not have to give the pages.

 
 
General Encyclopedias (e.g. World Book)

Basic format “Title of Entry/Article.” Title of Encyclopedia. Year.
Examples
“Cats.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2003.

“Snakes.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 1994.

 
 
Other Reference Books

Basic format Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Book. Volume, number. Year. Pages.
Examples
“Flat-headed Cat.” Endangered Wildlife of the World. Vol. 2. 1993.
          172.

"J. K. Rowling." Authors and Artists for Young Adults.  Vol. 34.  Detroit:
          Gale, 2000.  177-182.

Winks, Robin W.  "Agatha Christie."  British Writers.  Sup. II.  New
           York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1992.  83-87.

 
 
Web Pages

Basic format Author. “Title of Page.” Title of Web Site. Year created/modified. Date accessed. <Address>.
Examples
“Cheetah.” Cats Mild to Wild. N.d. 2 Feb. 2004.
          <http://www.lam.mus.ca.us/cats/>.
 
Csomos, Rebecca Ann. “Gorilla Gorilla.” Animal Diversity Web. 2004.
          30 Jan. 2004. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/
          accounts/information/Gorilla_gorilla.html>.
 
“Sharks.” The Canadian Museum of Nature. 2003. 4 Feb. 2004.
          <http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/ english/sharks.htm>.
  Note: Remember, if there is no copyright or modification date, write "N.d."