Google Docs: Your One-Stop Shop for... Everything Except Chicago Style Templates?
So, you’ve got a paper due. It's gotta be in Chicago style. You’re thinking, "Sweet, I’ll just whip up a doc in Google Docs and use one of those fancy templates." Well, hold your horses, eager scholar.
The Great Chicago Style Template Hunt
Google Docs is like that really chill friend who’s always down for a good time, but when it comes to academic formatting, it's a bit of a slacker. While it has templates for everything from resumes to wedding invitations, a Chicago style template? Nada. Zilch. Zero.
It's like Google Docs is saying, "Hey, I'm great at helping you write that epic novel or brainstorm your next world-dominating startup idea, but when it comes to footnotes and bibliographies, you're on your own."
DIY Chicago Style: It's Not as Bad as You Think
Don't panic. Creating a Chicago style paper in Google Docs isn’t rocket science (although it might feel like it at times). It just takes a little elbow grease and a strong cup of coffee.
Here's the lowdown:
- Margins: Set those babies to 1 inch all around.
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt. Classic.
- Line Spacing: Double-spaced. No cheating!
- Headers: Flush left, in all caps.
- Footnotes: Use the "Insert" menu, then "Footnote."
- Bibliography: This is where it gets a bit tricky, but Google Docs can handle it. Just use the "References" menu and create a custom bibliography style.
Tips and Tricks for the Chicago-Style Challenged
- Use the built-in citation tools: Google Docs has some basic citation tools that can help you get started.
- Check the Chicago Manual of Style: This is the bible of Chicago style. Keep it handy for those pesky formatting questions.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help: Your professor, a writing tutor, or even a friendly librarian can offer guidance.
How to... Chicago Style Your Google Doc
- How to create a Chicago style title page: Use the "Insert" menu to add a page break at the beginning of your document. Center the title, your name, and the course information on the page.
- How to format footnotes: Use the "Insert" menu to insert a footnote. The footnote number will automatically appear in your text, and the footnote itself will appear at the bottom of the page.
- How to create a bibliography: Use the "References" menu to create a custom bibliography style. Then, insert citations in your text and use the "Bibliography" option to generate your bibliography.
- How to adjust line spacing: Select the text you want to adjust, then go to the "Line spacing" dropdown menu and choose "Double."
- How to create headers: Go to the "Insert" menu, select "Header," and type your header text.
Remember, even though Google Docs might not hand you a pre-made Chicago style template, it's still a powerful tool. With a little effort, you can create a perfectly formatted paper that will impress your professor.