Writing a Paper

Writing Your Paper: Grades 6-8
 

The following information will help you format your works cited or bibliography. For further help in formatting your paper, go to the Purdue University's OWL  (Online Writing Lab)

BIBLIOGRAPHY: a record of all sources either specifically quoted, paraphrased, referred to in your text and all works you consulted but did not cite during your research.

WORKS CITED: a list of all sources that you cited in the text of your paper.
Check with your teacher for the preferred terminology of your assignment.
 

 General Guidelines

• Double-space your paper
• Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides
• Insert page numbers centered on the bottom of the page


Writing the Works Cited and Bibliography Page

• Begin your works cited list on a separate page from the text of the essay
• Label and center the list Works Cited or Bibliography (depending on your teacher’s preference). Do not underline or put in quotation marks.
• Arrange your sources alphabetically by author
• Double space all entries and do not skip spaces between entries
• Indent the second and following lines 5 spaces (use the hanging indent feature)
• If no author is given, begin with the title, alphabetize by the first prominent word in the title (ignore A, AN, THE). If the work is published by a society and no author is named, use the society as the author in order to alphabetize.
• Abbreviate the names of all months except May, June, July