Proper referencing is vital to the scholarly pursuit. It enables readers to engage your unfolding reasoning by double-checking the sources you employ, as much as you, the author, demonstrate that your thinking engages the knowledge of others. Choosing sources conscientiously of course is the key to any significant argument.
When it comes to choosing a style of referencing there are different schools of thought. MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and the CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE are three major styles. These styles require you to follow each their particular set of rules when referencing different kinds of text. Even to the point of meticulously outlining margins and spaces.
THE OWL AT PURDUE
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/07/
is an excellent resource for MLA style.
The Arthur C. Banks Jr. Library at Capital Community College Hartford, Connecticut) offer excellent reference information on the APA format including a useful link to grammar and writing. See http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/apa/
The Chicago Manual of Style Online
I am far from fundamentalist on the matter of style of referencing. The most important thing is the content of your paper. Nevertheless, it is important to apply a consistent format when referencing and structuring a paper. It is a necessity for serious and diligent work.
Do you know zotero? This is a wonderful tool for creating and maintaining references enabling you with a click of the mouse to put references in the style you like. Check it out!
Basic MLA style of single books:
Haywood, John. Historical
Atlas of the Vikings. London: Penguin, 1995.
Magnusson, Magnus, and Herman Palsson, ed. and trans. Njal's Saga.
London: Penguin, 1960.
Freeland, Cynthia. But Is It Art? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Basic APA style:
Haywood, J. (1995).
Historical Atlas of the Vikings. London: Penguin.
Magnusson, M., & Palsson, H. (Eds.) (1960). Njal's Saga.
London: Penguin.
Freeland, C. (2001). But Is It Art? Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chicago Manuel of Style:
Putnam, Hilary. 2004. Ethics Without Ontology. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Hamlin, William. 2000. On Continuities between Skepticism and Early Ethnigraphy; Or, Montaigne’s Providential Diversity. Sixteenth Century Journal 31, no. 2:361-379.
Screech,
M.A., trans. 2004. Michel de Montaigne The Essays: A Selection.
Penguin Books.
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