So You Heard a Speech and Now You Need to Cite It? Don't Freak Out, It's Not a CIA Mission (Unless it Was That Spy Thriller Conference)
Let's face it, attending speeches can be a mixed bag. Sometimes you're nodding off to monotone mumbling, other times you're witnessing history in the making (or at least a killer marketing presentation). But then comes the research paper, and suddenly that speech you barely remember is your academic lifeline. Fear not, fellow wordsmiths, for citing a speech in Chicago style is far less daunting than wrangling a flock of pigeons (although that could be a metaphor for your reference list later).
Here's the Lowdown (Chicago Style, Not Gangster Style)
There are two main ways to cite a speech in Chicago style, depending on whether you're using the author-date or notes-bibliography system.
Author-Date: This is your friend for fast and furious in-text citations. Here's the format:
- Speaker's Last Name, Year. "Title of Speech."
For example, if you heard Professor McSmarty lecture on the ethical dilemmas of social media, you'd cite it like this:
- McSmarty, 2024. "The Ethics of Oversharing Your Cat's Breakfast."
Notes-Bibliography: This one's a bit more formal, with a footnote for the in-text citation and a full bibliography entry. Buckle up, it's gonna get fancy:
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Footnote:
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Speaker's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Lecture, Institution Name (if applicable), Location, Month Day, Year.
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Bibliography:
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Speaker's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Lecture Type at Venue, Location, Month Day, Year.
For instance, if you attended a guest lecture by the hilarious Dr. Punnybones at Clown College (hey, no judgment!), here's how you'd rock it:
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Footnote:
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Punnybones, Bartholomew. "The History of Honking: From Geese to Gag Reflex." Lecture, Clown College, Clownsville, CA, April 1, 2024.
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Bibliography:
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Punnybones, Bartholomew. "The History of Honking: From Geese to Gag Reflex." Lecture at Clown College, Clownsville, CA, April 1, 2024.
Bonus Tip: If you snagged a copy of the speech transcript, you can add it to your bibliography like this:
- Speaker's Last Name, First Name. Year. "Title of Speech." Transcript of speech delivered at Location, Month Day, Year. URL.
There you have it, folks! Now you can confidently cite that speech, even if the only thing you remember is the speaker's questionable fashion choices. Remember, research is a journey, not a destination (unless that destination is a perfect A+). So go forth, conquer your citations, and avoid any academic plagiarism pigeons!
