How To Cite A Video In Chicago

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So You Watched a YouTube Rabbit Hole and Now You Need to Cite It? Don't Freak Out, It's Not Rocket Surgery (Unless You're Citing a Video About Rocket Surgery)

Hey there, fellow scholar! Ever spent hours getting sucked into the vortex of educational (or questionably educational) YouTube videos, only to realize later you need to cite one for your paper? Don't panic! Just because you've embraced your inner procrastinator and developed a Ph.D. in Cat Videos doesn't mean you're doomed to fail Chicago citation style.

In the Name of Citation Accuracy (and Avoiding Professorial Wrath)

We all know the struggle is real when it comes to citations. But fear not, we're here to break down citing a YouTube video in Chicago style like we're explaining how to use a spork (revolutionary utensil, by the way).

Here's the gist: you need to create two things:

  1. An in-text citation: This is a sneaky little guy that pops up within your paper whenever you reference the video.
  2. A reference list entry: This is where you give the video all the credit it deserves, in a fancy, formatted way.

Breaking Down the In-Text Citation: Short, Sweet, and to the Point

Imagine this in-text citation as your own personal shout-out to the video. Here's the format:

  • Author's last name, First name. (If it's a channel, use the channel name)
  • "Title of the video in quotations."
  • Additional information (optional, but helpful). This could be the date uploaded, the website (e.g., YouTube), or even the length (if it's a super long video).
  • Month Day, Year.
  • URL.

For example, let's say you used a video by the ever-so-informative "CrashCourse" channel to learn about the history of the potato. Here's your in-text citation:

See? Easy peasy!

Now, on to the Reference List Entry: The Grand Finale of Citation Fun

The reference list entry is where you give the video the red carpet treatment. It's basically a fancy bibliography entry specifically for videos. Here's the format:

  • Author's last name, First name. (If it's a channel, use the channel name)
  • Year.
  • "Title of the video in quotations."
  • Additional information (optional, but helpful). This could be the date uploaded or the website (e.g., YouTube).
  • Month Day, Year.
  • Format, Video length.
  • URL.

So, for our trusty potato pal, here's the reference list entry:

Voila! You've successfully cited a YouTube video in Chicago style! Now you can impress your professor with your research skills (and maybe even get them to lighten up on that due date). Remember, there's no shame in getting sucked into the YouTube abyss, as long as you can cite your way out of it. Happy researching (and maybe throw in a quick cat video break, we won't judge)!

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How To Cite A Video In Chicago

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