So, You Need to Cite a Website in Chicago Style? Don't Freak Out, It's Not Brain Surgery (Unless You're Citing a Medical Website, Then Maybe...)
Referencing the vast wilderness of the internet can feel like wrangling a herd of particularly rambunctious kittens. Fear not, intrepid scholar! Today, we're diving into the wonderful world of Chicago-style website citations, and emerging triumphant (and with minimal eye-scratching).
First Things First: You Need Information, Detective!
Before you channel your inner Sherlock Holmes, remember, citations are all about giving credit where credit's due. To do that, you gotta unearth some key details:
- The Author: This could be a person or an organization. If it's a mystery, well, that's a whole different research adventure!
- The Page Title: Think of it as the flashy headline screaming for your attention.
- The Website Name: Pretty straightforward, unless you're citing the elusive "cat video website from that one time."
- The Date: This could be a publication date, a revision date, or, if all else fails, the date you accessed the website (like finding a half-eaten burrito in the fridge – you just gotta know).
Pro Tip: Most websites hide this info somewhere in the depths of their digital caves. Look for things like "About Us" pages, copyright notices, or even the bottom of the page.
Now, Let's Craft Those Citations!
Alright, information in hand, it's time to get down to business. Here's the basic format for both footnotes (those pesky little numbers at the bottom of the page) and your bibliography (the fancy list of references at the end):
-
Footnote:
- Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Name of Website, Name of Sponsoring Institution (if different), Date Published (or Last Updated, or Accessed if all else fails), URL.
-
Bibliography:
- Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Name of Website, Name of Sponsoring Institution (if different), Date Published (or Last Updated, or Accessed if all else fails), URL.
Don't worry, it's not a spelling bee! A little extra comma here or a forgotten "S" there won't send you to citation jail.
But Wait, There's More! (Because There Usually Is)
- What if there's no author? Sub in the website name for the author's name.
- Multiple authors? List them all, last name first, separated by commas (unless there are five or more, then it gets a little funky).
- Tricky titles? Use quotation marks for webpage titles.
Remember: Consistency is key! Once you pick a format, stick with it throughout your paper.
You Did It! You're a Chicago-Style Website Citation Champion!
Now, go forth and conquer the wild world of internet research, brave scholar! Just remember, if all else fails, there's always a chance your professor will be more impressed by your valiant citation attempt than a perfectly formatted one (no guarantees though).
