Conquering the Citation Jungle: How to Cite an NGO Report in Chicago Style (and Not Go Apeshit Over It)
Ah, Chicago style. The land of footnotes, parenthetical citations, and enough formatting rules to make your head spin like a rotisserie chicken. But fear not, intrepid researcher! Today, we're tackling the wild beast that is citing an NGO report, Chicago style.
First Things First: You've Got the Report, Now What?
So, you've unearthed this fantastic report by a Chicago-based NGO (that's Non-Governmental Organization, for those playing NGO Bingo at home). It's full of juicy information, but how do you cite it properly? Here's the lowdown:
- Identify the Author: Most NGO reports won't have a single superstar author. Instead, you'll likely see the NGO itself listed as the author.
- Title Town: Grab the report's title, every last word of it. Don't forget any colons, subtitles, or question marks – it's all part of the citation fun.
- Publication Party: Track down the city where the NGO is headquartered (usually in the report itself) and any publisher information.
Remember: This info might be hiding on the first page, the last page, or somewhere in the great beyond (NGO report formatting can be a whimsical adventure).
Putting it All Together: Citation Style Smackdown!
Now that you've wrangled the report's details, it's time for the citation rodeo! Here's the winning format for both footnotes and your bibliography:
In-text Citation (Footnote):
[Number] [NGO Name] _[Title of Report]_** ([City of Publication]: [Publisher], [Year])**
For Example:
¹ Chicago Coalition for Non-Profit Excellence The Great Grant Grab: Fundraising Strategies for Busy NGOs (Chicago: Acme Publishing, 2023)
Bibliography:
[NGO Name]. _[Title of Report]_**. [City of Publication]: [Publisher], [Year].
For Example:
Chicago Coalition for Non-Profit Excellence. The Great Grant Grab: Fundraising Strategies for Busy NGOs. Chicago: Acme Publishing, 2023.
Bonus Tip: If you snagged the report online, you can add the URL after the publication information in both the footnote and bibliography. Just make sure it's a reliable source, not some random blog post about cat memes (because let's face it, we've all been there).
You Did It! You're a Chicago Style Citation Champion!
Congratulations! You've successfully navigated the treacherous waters of citing an NGO report. Now, go forth and conquer your research paper, knowing you've got the Chicago style magic on your side. Remember, a little humor and perseverance can go a long way in the academic jungle.
P.S. If you're still feeling a tad bewildered, there are plenty of online citation generators that can help you out. Just don't rely on them blindly – double-check their work to make sure they haven't gone rogue and cited a scholarly article on the history of the spork.
