Research Paper

THEO 3301

Dr. Sommer

Citations

The Chicago style of referencing uses parenthetical references usually placed at the end of a sentence or at the first logical punctuation break after the quotation. This style conveys the information needed for the reader without sacrificing readability. The basic information needed in a parenthetical reference is only enough to identify the source within your bibliography. For most instances, this means the author’s last name, the date of publication, then the page number for the reference.

Example: The Zadokites are hardly mentioned in the Bible; “all four references to the . . . ‘sons of Zadok’ occur in one small section of the book of Ezekiel” (Hunt 2006, 81).

Notice, no punctuation is required between the author’s name and the date of publication. Also notice that there is no punctuation between the end of the quotation and the reference. All punctuation goes after the reference.

If the author’s name appears in the sentence, it is not necessary to repeat it in the reference.

Example: Hunt demonstrates that the only reference to the Zadokites in the Bible occurs “in one small section of the book of Ezekiel” (2006, 81).

Of course, either example is useless without a bibliography or works cited page.

Hunt, Alice. Missing Priests: The Zadokites in Tradition and History. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 452. New York: T & T Clark, 2006.

The following is needed for a bibliographic entry: Author’s name (last, first). Title (underlined or italics). Series (if present). Place of publishing: Publisher, year.

If the source is an article in a book, then you need: Author’s name (last, first). “Title of article.” In Title of book (underlined or italics). Editor of book. Series (if present). Place of publication: Publisher, year. Pp. Inclusive page numbers of the article.

Thus:

Jacobsen, Thorkild. “The Graven Image.” In Ancient Israelite Religion: Essays in Honor of Frank Moore Cross. Ed. Patrick D. Miller, Paul D. Hanson, and S. Dean McBride. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009. Pp. 15-32.

If the source is a journal article, then you need: Author’s name (last, first). “Title of article.” Tile of journal (underlined or italics) Volume number (no punctuation between the last two). Year (in parentheses): page numbers.

Thus:

Bosworth, David. “Evaluating King David: Old Problems and Recent Scholarship.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 68 (2006): 191-210.

For a movie, you need writer, title, and any other facts relevant to identifying the item. For the citation, you would have writer, date and DVD chapter no.

Jim Carrey’s character of Bruce is introduced as a television reporter in the opening scenes of the movie (Koren, 2003, 1).

Koren, Steve. Bruce Almighty. Directed by Tom Shadyac. Universal City, CA: Universal Studios, Inc., 2003. DVD

If you have any example which deviates from these simple examples, please consult the Chicago Manual of Style.

For references to the biblical text, see the other handout on rules for citing Scripture. For the first reference, you should give the name of the translation you are using after the reference: (Gn 1:1, New American Bible). The bibliographic information about the translation should go in the Works Cited.

Remember that the Works Cited Page is put in alphabetical order based on the last names of the authors. If there is no author, use the title of the Work.