Tips on How to Write a Thesis Bibliography

A thesis bibliography is a compilation of all the sources utilized and suggested for additional research by the author. This list is usually placed after the main body of the dissertation. Here, sufficient sources’ details should be added to be independently verified.

Each citation must include the author’s name, the source’s title, and the publisher’s name. In addition, students must include the year of publication and the page number where the information is found. It might be somewhat overwhelming if you aren’t used to putting together the bibliographies section of your project. However, this article will discuss tips on how to write a thesis bibliography section.

Guide to writing a perfect thesis bibliography

On days when you don’t feel like writing, compiling your bibliography could be productive. Although, it may take longer to compose and arrange than you anticipate especially when you have no idea how to get it done.

Various fields use different formats to write a bibliography. The APA and MLA styles are most widely employed for sciences and humanities. However, when citing the bibliography of sources from an article, the rule should be changed to suit the article’s citation style. Here are some bibliography styles and tips for writing them:

MLA bibliography

Based on the Modern Language Association handbook, Seventh Edition, students are to add a Works Cited page as their bibliography. This style differs from the APA and Chicago style. This difference is because of the need to identify the publishing medium, such as print, video, or DVD.

To write in this style, the author’s last name, comma, first name, and period make up the basic format. It would be best if you then typed the publisher’s name, a colon, a comma, the year of publication, and a period. Students should then list the book’s title after a period in italics. Lastly, you should finish with the publication medium and a timeframe for the project.

In summary,

  • For books

“The author’s last name, first name. The Book title. The Publication City: the Publishing company, the publication date.”

  • For Newspapers and Magazines

“The author’s last name, the first name. “The Article title.” Periodical title volume Date: inclusive of the pages.”

APA bibliography

Social science dissertations frequently cite the American Psychological Association. When writing in APA style, you utilize a reference list rather than a bibliography. If you are required to write your bibliography in APA style, follow the Sixth Edition. This edition requires you to speak with your committee head about additional specifications.

This style is distinctive since you mention your references in your content. The fundamental formatting requirements for your entry are the author’s last name, comma, first initial, and then period. Put the publishing year in parenthesis after that, then a period. Then, put a period after the work’s title in italics.

Furthermore, students should write the publisher’s name, a colon, and location. Lastly, add a period.

In summary,

  • For Books for APA bibliography

“The Author’s last name, the first initial. (The Publication date). The Book title. The City of Publication: Publishing company.

  • For Encyclopedia

The Author’s last name, the first initial. (Date). The Title of Article. The Title of Encyclopedia (Volumes, pages). The City of Publication: Publishing Company.

  • For Magazine and Newspaper Article

The Author’s last name, the first initial. (Publication Date). The Article title. The Periodical title, the Volume number (issue number if there’s any), page numbers.

Chicago bibliography

This style requires that you include a bibliography page using the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. For proper formatting, list the author’s last name, a comma, their first name, and a period after each entry.

The text’s title should then be typed in italics and followed by a period. Then, add the publisher’s name, a comma, the year of publication, and a period. Finish with the city where the work was published, and add a comma.

In summary

  • For books

The Author Last Name, the First Name. The Book Title: the Subtitle. The Edition. The Place of publication: the Publisher, Year. DOI/URL.

  • For Journals

The Author Last Name, the First Name. “The Article Title.” The Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Month Year): the Page range. DOI/URL.

Other important tips to keep in mind

What is bibliography in research papers without research and consistency? Aside from the bibliography style used, there are other important tips for writing a perfect bibliography.

  1. Stay consistent with citation style

Your bibliography in the thesis won’t matter as much as how consistently you can use it. Using the AP style for multimedia and the Chicago style for book citations is wrong. Consistency doesn’t require you to stick to one writing style throughout your academic career, but your thesis requires it.

Inconsistency can make locating and identifying the data you utilized more difficult. Thus, it effectively negates the purpose of a bibliography, which is meant to clarify your research sources.

  1. Proofreading

The bibliography for thesis may be the final section of your thesis that you write. However, you should know that your lecturer or committee may examine it first. The readers won’t be pleased by obvious spelling mistakes or awkward comma placement when they check your work.

You risk losing points on your dissertation by assuming you typed everything perfectly the first time. Ensure that you proofread what goes into a bibliography countless times before turning your thesis in.

Conclusion

Writing for academic purposes differs significantly from writing done for leisure. You have a more outstanding obligation to the reader since you’re contributing to an intellectual discussion and must cite any borrowed ideas. Therefore, taking your time to write it appropriately is crucial.

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