Creating a Bibliography: APA and MLA Formats

Writing a Bibliography

It is important to include a bibliography / works consulted / resourced consulted with all your research assignments. A bibliography tells the teacher or instructor you have conducted thorough research and used reliable academic resources. Furthermore, it lets the teacher know what books, websites, and databases you have read to help you write your paper; namely, that YOU have written the assignment and not plagiarized.

There are two main styles for writing a bibliography:

Modern Languages Association (MLA) and American Psychology Association (APA).

MLA is the most common style used by high school students for English and Social Studies.

APA is the standard style for psychology is the required style for high school students enrolled in Psychology.

APA (American Psychological Association)

American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of many styles for academic writing.
It is the standard citation style for such disciplines as psychology, sociology, marketing, and human resources research.

General Rules

Times New Roman font
12-point font size
arrange reference list entries alphabetically by authors' last name or title if there is no author
capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the article or book title
italicize journal and book titles

Citations in Text

"direct quotation" (LaVoie, 2003, p. 786);

paraphrasing. (LaVoie, 2003);

electronic sources without page numbers. (Gulli, 2011, para. 7)

Examples of Common Reference List Entries

Book: 1-2 authors

Eberhart-Phillips, J. (2000). Outbreak alert: responding to the

increasing threat of infectious diseases.

Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Encyclopedia article

LaVoie, J. C. (2003). Identity crises. In Magill's encyclopedia of social

science: psychology (Vol. 2, pp.785-789).

Pasadena, CA: Salem Press.

Article from a database

Ferguson C. J., Munoz, M. E., Contreras S., & Valasquez K. (2011).

Mirror, mirror on the wall: peer competition, television

influences, and body image dissatisfaction. Journal of Social

and Clinical Psychology, 30, 242-249.

Academic Search Premier.

Online Magazine

Gulli, C. (2011, May 19). Concussions: the untold story. Maclean's.

Retrieved from http://www2.macleans.ca/

2011/05/19/concussions-the-untold-story/

Media

Massey University. (2009, July 27). APA referencing: the basics

[video file].

Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/user/

masseyuniversity#p/c/BCB5EF2A5A4F24AD/1/SOEmM5gmTJM

Website (no author)

Stem Cell Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2018, from https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/1.htm

Website (author)

Hoffman, M., MD. (2018). Th Picture of the Brain. Retrieved June 6,

2018, from https://www.webmd.com/brain/picture-of-the

brain#1

MLA (Modern Language Association)

Tips to remember ...

entries are listed alphabetically
second and subsequent lines are indented 5 spaces
bibliographic information is located on the inside front page of a book or at the bottom of a website

Print Resources:
Book

Author's last name, Author's first name. Title of Book.

Place of publication: Publisher, copyright date.

Encyclopedia Article (print)

Author's last name, Author's first name. "Title of article." Title of

Encyclopedia. volume#, page#. Place of publication:

Publisher,. copyright date.

Database Resources:

EBook Article

Author's last name, author's first name. "Title of Article." Title of E

Book. Place of Publication: publisher. Editor of E Book.

Copyright date. Title of Database. Institution which

provides database, date the database article was accessed.

Website

Author's last name, Author's first name. Title of webpage.

date page was last updated or copyright date. Company or

Educational institution. date you accessed the webpage.

Interview:

Interviewee Last name, First name. Interview type interview/email/

phone. date interviewed.

Film or Video:

Film title. Director First name Last name. Distributer, Year of release. Film.

CITATION MACHINE helps you create EASY bibliographies.
Just copy and paste the bibliographic information into the fields and a pop up will deliver your entry. Similar sites include EASY BIB and BIB ME