What is the purpose of a bibliography entry and what should be included?
A bibliography entry is a list of sources used in a research paper or project. Its purpose is to provide the reader with information about the sources you consulted and allow them to locate those sources if they want to further explore the topic.
A bibliography entry should include the following information:
1. Author(s) or editor(s): Include the names of the individuals responsible for the work. Begin with the last name, followed by the first and middle names or initials (if available). If there is no author, start with the title.
2. Title of the work: Provide the title of the book, article, or other resource in italics (or underlined if handwritten).
3. Publication information: Include the name of the publisher, place of publication, and the year of publication.
4. Page numbers (for articles or chapters): If you are citing an article from a journal or a chapter from a book, include the specific page numbers of the article or chapter.
5. URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) (for online sources): If you are citing an online source, include the URL or DOI at the end of the entry to make it easily accessible. You may also need to include the date of access if the content is subject to change.
Different citation styles have specific formatting guidelines for bibliography entries (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Make sure to consult the appropriate style guide to ensure you are formatting your entries correctly.