So You Heard a Mind-Blowing Lecture (and Forgot to Take Notes During All the Laughter) - How to Cite It in Chicago Style
Let's face it, attending lectures can be a wild ride. You might be there for a brain-bending exploration of astrophysics, but end up getting swept away by a lecturer who combines the knowledge of Stephen Hawking with the comedic timing of a particularly witty stand-up routine.
The Problem: You Want to Cite This Gem, But Your Notes Look Like a Squirrel Chewed on Them
Fear not, fellow knowledge-seeker! Even if your note-taking skills resemble a toddler's first attempt at abstract art, there's a way to cite that hilarious and informative lecture in Chicago style.
Chicago Says "Hold My Monocle, This Isn't Rocket Science"
While citing a lecture might seem intimidating, Chicago's actually pretty chill about it. Here's the gist:
- Name Dropping 101: First, identify the lecturer. This might seem obvious, but unless it was Batman delivering his secrets on crimefighting (which would be awesome), you probably should've gotten their name.
- Title it Up: Next, we need the lecture title. If it wasn't mentioned (because, hey, laughter can be distracting!), try summarizing the main topic in a clear and concise way.
Now it Gets Fancy (Kind Of): Lecture Details
- Location, Location, Location: Chicago wants to know where the knowledge bomb went off. City, state, and even the university or conference name (if applicable) are your friends here.
- Time Travel for Citations: Include the date of the lecture. Unless you have a time machine (in which case, can I borrow it?), this should be easy to remember.
Putting it All Together: Here's Your Magical Citation Formula
For in-text citations (those little numbers popping up in your writing), use this format:
[Author Last Name, "Lecture Title"]
For example:
[Smith, "The Hilarious History of Laundry"]
For the bibliography (the fancy list at the end), things get a little more detailed:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Lecture Title." Lecture, Institution Name (if applicable), City, State, Date.
Here's a real-life example:
Jones, David. "Black Holes: Are They Just Cosmic Vacuum Cleaners?" Lecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, April 1st, 2024. (Though hopefully, this lecture wasn't an elaborate April Fool's joke!)
Remember:
- If it was a class lecture, include the course name and number.
- For presentations with slides (think PowerPoint or Google Slides), you can mention it as a "PowerPoint presentation."
Bonus Tip: If the lecture was particularly memorable (because of its content or comedic value), mention it in your paper! A little anecdote can add personality and show the human side of research.
So there you have it! Now you can cite that lecture and impress your professor (or whoever's reading your work) with your research skills and, hopefully, your undiscovered talent for humor.
