So You Inherited Uncle Ted's Tome of Turtle Trivia (and Now Need to Cite It in Chicago Style)
Let's face it, referencing can be a real drag. You're elbow-deep in an essay about, well, anything that isn't turtle trivia (because let's be honest, that was Uncle Ted's magnum opus, not yours), and you need to cite a source. But hold on, it's not just any book - it's a glorious, multi-chaptered beast edited by someone named "Shelly Shellington" (seriously, Ted?). Fear not, weary writer, for this guide will be your shell-ter from citation chaos (get it? ...Okay, moving on).
Cracking the Code: Referencing a Chapter in an Edited Book
First, take a deep breath and resist the urge to chuck Uncle Ted's tome across the room. We can do this. Here's the basic format for a reference list entry in Chicago style, author edition:
- Author's Last Name, First Name. Year. "'Chapter Title.'" In Book Title, edited by Editor Name(s), Page range. Place of publication: Publisher.
For example:
- Snappington, Shelly. 2023. "'The Surprisingly Strategic Shell: A Defense Mechanism or a Fashion Statement?'" In The Totally Tubular Turtle: A Comprehensive Exploration, edited by Shelly Shellington, 34-52. Torterra Terra Firma Press.
Breaking it Down:
- Author's Last Name, First Name: This is the brilliant mind behind the specific chapter you're referencing.
- Year: When knowledge about turtles peaked (probably the year this chapter was published).
- 'Chapter Title': Enclosed in quotation marks, just like your Aunt Mildred's prize-winning pecan pie recipe.
- In Book Title: The glorious, multi-shelled beast Uncle Ted consulted.
- edited by Editor Name(s): The person who wrangled all the turtley goodness into one place (bless their shell).
- Page range: The specific location of the wisdom you seek within the book.
- Place of publication: Where this turtley treasure was hatched (city and state are usually enough).
- Publisher: The brave souls who decided the world needed more turtle knowledge.
Pro Tip: If there are more than three editors, just list the first three, then whack on a snazzy "et al." at the end. It basically means "and friends" in the world of citations.
Footnotes: Friend or Foe?
Now, footnotes. These little guys can be tricky, but fear not! Here's the format:
- Author Name, 'Chapter Title,' in Book Title, ed. Editor Name(s) (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page number(s).
Looking familiar? It should! It's basically the same info, just with a few tweaks for footnote finesse.
Example Footnote:
- Snappington, Shelly, "'The Surprisingly Strategic Shell: A Defense Mechanism or a Fashion Statement?'" in The Totally Tubular Turtle: A Comprehensive Exploration, ed. Shelly Shellington (Torterra Terra Firma Press, 2023), 42.
See the Difference? No bold or italics, and the publisher information is all tucked in parentheses.
And There You Have It!
Now you can confidently navigate the wonderful world of edited book citations in Chicago style. Remember, referencing isn't a punishment, it's a way to show respect to the shell-abrations of others (and avoid plagiarism, which is a whole other can of worms). So go forth, conquer your citations, and maybe even learn a thing or two about the strategic brilliance of a turtle's shell. Just don't tell Uncle Ted you learned it from anyone but him.
