chicago style research paper outline example

Chicago-style outline

Published February 16, 2021. Updated August 15, 2021.

This guide covers what an outline is and how to create one in Chicago style. It follows the guidance given in the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style , but this guide is not linked to the CMOS .

Here’s what you’ll find on this page:

What is an outline?

Chicago style–outline basics.

• sample outline

For help writing your essay, research paper , or other project, check out these writing tips .

Your instructor might ask you to develop an outline before you begin writing. An outline helps you to organize your paper and see how all the elements in your paper interact. It will give an idea of how your paper will look in its final form, but you do not need to strictly follow the outline once you’ve made it. You might decide to reorder elements in your paper or add new sections. You can always update your outline to reflect your new structure. Ultimately, the outline is a writing aid.

Outlines can be simple notes or have extremely detailed entries. If your instructor has not specified how detailed your outline should be, do what works best for you. You may prefer the freedom of brief bullet points or you might write better with a more detailed outline.

An outline typically groups the main ideas of your paper into groups and sub-groups that are related to your primary topic. You might have points and sub-points for your groups and sub-groups.

Chicago’s guidelines for creating an outline are fairly flexible. One key requirement for an outline in Chicago is consistency. This means that you should make sure your numbering and formatting are consistent throughout your outline.

Chicago also has a few recommendations for formatting your outline. You may use both numbers and letters as divisions in your outline (just be consistent!). If your divisions contain two digits, align the element vertically by the second digit.

If a line runs over, you should align the runover lines with the first word following the number or letter used as a dividing element. Levels within an outline are often distinguished by both indentation and punctuation.

Sample outline

While outlines can vary in format depending on your topic and how complicated your argument is, the outline for a basic, five-paragraph essay might look something like this:

I. Introduction

II. First Paragraph

A. First Point

• First Sub-Point of First Point
• Second Sub-Point of First Point

B. Second Point

• First Sub-Point of Second Point
• Second Sub-Point of Second Point

III. Second Paragraph

IV. Third Paragraph

V. Conclusion

Here’s an example of what the start of an outline might look like for a short paper on why college students should have houseplants:

I. Introduction: College students should keep houseplants

II. Houseplants can help reduce stress

A. Houseplants create a feeling of well-being

• Houseplants help make the atmosphere relaxed
• Houseplants help make rooms look nicer

B. Houseplants can be calming

• Houseplants remind students of being outdoors
• Houseplants help to minimize distractions and anxiety

Works Consulted:

The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7208/cmos17.

Chicago Style Guides

Chicago Style : Annotated bibliography | Abstract | Block Quote | Headings | Outline | Page Numbers | Title page

Citing sources : In-text citations | Bibliography | Reference list | Footnotes | Citing Multiple Authors | Citing Sources with No Authors

Chicago Style Citation Generator : Article | Book | Image | Interview | Journal | Movie | PDF | Textbook | Website | YouTube

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Chicago Research Paper Formatting

Chicago manual of style (cmos - 17th edition).

• Finding Sources for Your Paper
• Additional Resources
• Sample Papers

You are going to love this! Save this template somewhere safe or e-mail it to yourself. Then resave it immediately with the name of your new document. This will keep your template safe and ready to reuse again for future assignments.

The templates provided will be sufficient for most student Chicago Style papers. For more information on formatting, please check out The Chicago Manual of Style Online Resources for Students page at  https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/Resources-for-Students.html . 

• Purdue Owl Author Date Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Purdue Owl Notes Bibliography Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Turabian: Student Paper-Writing Tip Sheets Official Chicago style, in easy-to-use, printable PDF paper-writing tip sheets for students, teachers, and librarians. Guidelines are per Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (9th ed.) and are fully compatible with The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.).
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Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance .

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• Writing Tips

How to Write and Format a Chicago Style Paper [With Examples]

• 3-minute read
• 18th August 2023

Are you working on a Chicago style project but struggling with the question, “just what is it?!”

Fear not, this post will walk you through Chicago style basics.

What Is Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) is a comprehensive style guide primarily used by professional writers, publishers, and researchers. It covers various forms of writing, including books, journals, magazines, and other publications. It’s often the go-to style for publishers and editors. CMoS is also known for its emphasis on scholarly writing and is suitable for a wide range of disciplines, including history, literature, the arts, and social sciences.

However, there’s an important distinction between Chicago style and Turabian style , which is essentially a simplified version of CMoS used in scholarly writing. Turabian omits some of the complexities and focuses on the needs of academic writers, especially those in the humanities and social sciences.

With either style, it’s essential to consult the relevant edition of the style guide specified by your institution or publication: either The Chicago Manual of Style or A Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian (currently in its ninth edition).

How Are Chicago Style Citations Formatted?

CMoS emphasizes two primary documentation systems : the notes and bibliography system (often used in the humanities) and the author–date system (preferred in the sciences and social sciences). When formatting a CMoS/Turabian paper, you’ll need to adhere to the guidelines associated with your chosen documentation system.

Notes and Bibliography System:

●  In this system, you’ll use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources within the text.

●  A corresponding bibliography is included at the end of the paper, listing all sources in alphabetical order.

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●  Citations typically include author names, titles, publication details, and page numbers.

Author–Date System:

●  In the author–date system, you’ll incorporate in-text citations within parentheses.

●  A reference list is included at the end of the document, providing full details for each cited source.

●  Citations include author’s last names, publication year, and page numbers (if applicable).

What Does Turabian Style Formatting Look Like?

A well-structured Turabian Style paper should adhere to the following formatting guidelines :

•   Title page : Include the title of your paper, your name, the course name/number, instructor’s name, and the date on a separate page, starting a third of the page down. Alternatively, write the title on the first page.
•   Margins : Apply one-inch margins on all sides.
• Indentation and spacing : Indent paragraphs and double-space the main text.
• Font : Use a legible 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Page numbers : Number all pages consecutively in the top right corner, starting with the first page. Alternatively, page numbers may be placed at the bottom center of the page.
• Headings and subheadings : Use headline-style capitalization for headings and subheadings, with different levels distinguished.
• Footnotes or in-text citations: Implement your chosen citation system consistently throughout the paper.
• Bibliography or reference list : Include a comprehensive list of all sources used, following Chicago style citation guidelines for your chosen system.

How Should I Choose Which Chicago Style Documentation to Use?

It’s crucial to find out which specific CMoS system is preferred by your institution, publisher, or field of study. Always consult your assignment guidelines or style manual to determine whether you should use the notes and bibliography system or the author–date system. This choice will significantly impact how you format your citations and references.

Remember that mastering CMoS takes practice. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to crafting polished, professionally formatted papers that meet the expectations of your academic or professional audience.

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Turabian Student Paper-Formatting Tip Sheets

Official Chicago style, in easy-to-use, printable PDF paper-writing tip sheets for students, teachers, and librarians. Guidelines are per Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations  (9th ed.) and are fully compatible with  The Chicago Manual of Style  (17th ed.).

[Important: Directions from your teacher, instructor, or dissertation office overrule these guidelines.]

• Margins and Page Numbers
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables and Figures
• Introduction or Conclusion
• Sections and Subheads
• Chapter Opening Page
• Figure and Figure Caption
• Bibliography
• Parenthetical Citations
• Reference List

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

General Format

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Since The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is primarily intended as a style guide for published works rather than class papers, these guidelines will be supplemented with information from, Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th ed.), which is largely based on CMOS with some slight alterations.

To see a side-by-side comparison of the three most widely used citation styles, including a chart of all CMOS citation guidelines, see the Citation Style Chart.

Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in CMOS.

A Note on Citations

Unlike many citation styles, CMOS gives writers two different methods for documenting sources: the Author-Date System and the Notes-Bibliography (NB) System.  As its name suggests, Author-Date uses parenthetical citations in the text to reference the source's author's last name and the year of publication. Each parenthetical citation corresponds to an entry on a References page that concludes the document. In these regards, Author-Date is very similar to, for instance, APA style.

By contrast, NB uses numbered footnotes in the text to direct the reader to a shortened citation at the bottom of the page. This corresponds to a fuller citation on a Bibliography page that concludes the document. Though the general principles of citation are the same here, the citations themselves are formatted differently from the way they appear in Author-Date.

If you are using CMOS for school or work, don't forget to ensure that you're using your organization's preferred citation method. For examples of these two different styles in action, see our CMOS sample papers:

Author-Date Sample Paper

NB Sample Paper

General CMOS Guidelines

• Text should be consistently double-spaced, except for block quotations, notes, bibliography entries, table titles, and figure captions.
• A prose quotation of five or more lines, or more than 100 words, should be blocked.
• CMOS recommends blocking two or more lines of poetry.
• A blocked quotation does not get enclosed in quotation marks.
• A blocked quotation must always begin a new line.
• Blocked quotations should be indented with the word processor’s indention tool.
• Page numbers begin in the header of the first page of text with Arabic number 1.
• For CMOS and Turabian’s recommendations, see “Headings,” below.

Supplemental Turabian Style Guidelines

• Margins should be set at no less than 1”.
• Typeface should be something readable, such as Times New Roman or Courier.
• Font size should be no less than 10 pt. (preferably, 12 pt.).

Major Paper Sections

• The title should be centered a third of the way down the page.
• Your name, class information, and the date should follow several lines later.
• For subtitles, end the title line with a colon and place the subtitle on the line below the title.
• Double-space each line of the title page.

CMOS Title Page

• Different practices apply for theses and dissertations (see Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, ad Dissertations [8 th ed.].
• Titles mentioned in the text, notes, or bibliography are capitalized “headline-style,” meaning first words of titles and subtitles and any important words thereafter should be capitalized.
• Book and periodical titles (titles of larger works) should be italicized.
• Article and chapter titles (titles of shorter works) should be enclosed in double quotation marks.
• The titles of most poems should be enclosed in double quotation marks, but the titles of very long poems should be italicized.
• Titles of plays should be italicized.
• For example, use lowercase terms to describe periods, except in the case of proper nouns (e.g., “the colonial period,” vs. “the Victorian era”).
• A prose quotation of five or more lines should be “blocked.” The block quotation should match the surrounding text, and it takes no quotation marks. To offset the block quote from surrounding text, indent the entire quotation using the word processor’s indentation tool. It is also possible to offset the block quotation by using a different or smaller font than the surrounding text.
• Label the first page of your back matter, your comprehensive list of sources, “Bibliography” (for Notes and Bibliography style) or “References” (for Author-Date style).
• Leave two blank lines between “Bibliography” or “References” and your first entry.
• Leave one blank line between remaining entries.
• List entries in letter-by-letter alphabetical order according to the first word in each entry, be that the author's name or the title of the piece..
• For two to three authors, write out all names.
• For four to ten authors, write out all names in the bibliography but only the first author’s name plus “et al.” in notes and parenthetical citations.
• When a source has no identifiable author, cite it by its title, both on the references page and in shortened form (up to four keywords from that title) in parenthetical citations throughout the text.
• Write out publishers’ names in full.
• Do not use access dates unless publication dates are unavailable.
• If you cannot ascertain the publication date of a printed work, use the abbreviation “n.d.”
• Provide DOIs instead of URLs whenever possible.
• If no DOI is available, provide a URL.
• If you cannot name a specific page number when called for, you have other options: section (sec.), equation (eq.), volume (vol.), or note (n.).

CMOS Bibliography Page

• Note numbers should begin with “1” and follow consecutively throughout a given paper.
• Note numbers are superscripted.
• Note numbers should be placed at the end of the clause or sentence to which they refer and should be placed after all punctuation, except for the dash.
• Note numbers are full-sized, not raised, and followed by a period (superscripting note numbers in the notes themselves is also acceptable).
• In parenthetical citation, separate documentation from brief commentary with a semicolon.
• Do not repeat the hundreds digit in a page range if it does not change from the beginning to the end of the range.

For more information on footnotes, please see CMOS NB Sample Paper .

While  The Chicago Manual of Style does not include a prescribed system for formatting headings and subheads, it makes several recommendations.

• Maintain consistency and parallel structure in headings and subheads.
• Use headline-style for purposes of capitalization.
• Subheadings should begin on a new line.
• Subheadings can be distinguished by font-size.
• Ensure that each level of hierarchy is clear and consistent.
• Levels of subheads can be differentiated by type style, use of boldface or italics, and placement on the page, usually either centered or flush left.
• Use no more than three levels of hierarchy.
• Avoid ending subheadings with periods.

Turabian has an optional system of five heading levels.

Turabian Subheading Plan

Here is an example of the five-level heading system:

CMOS Headings

Tables and Figures

• Position tables and figures as soon as possible after they are first referenced. If necessary, present them after the paragraph in which they are described.
• For figures, include a caption, or short explanation of the figure or illustration, directly after the figure number.
• Cite a source as you would for parenthetical citation, and include full information in an entry on your Bibliography or References page.
• Acknowledge reproduced or adapted sources appropriately (i.e., photo by; data adapted from; map by...).
• If a table includes data not acquired by the author of the text, include an unnumbered footnote. Introduce the note by the word Source(s) followed by a colon, then include the full source information, and end the note with a period.

How to Cite the Purdue OWL in CMOS

On the new OWL site, contributors’ names and the last edited date are no longer listed at the top of every page. This means that most citations will now begin with the title of the resource, rather than the contributors' names.

Footnote or Endnote (N):

Corresponding Bibliographical Entry (B):

“Title of Resource.” List the OWL as Publishing Organization/Web Site Name . http://Web address for OWL resource.

“General Format.” The Purdue OWL. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/02/.

Author Date In-text Citation:

("General Format" 2017).

Author Date References Page Citation:

Year of Publication. “Title of Resource.” List the OWL as Publishing Organization/Web Site Name . http://Web address for OWL resource.

2017. “General Format.” The Purdue OWL . https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/02.

How to Format Your Research Paper

• APA 7 Paper Format
• MLA Paper Format

Writing Your Paper: Chicago

Chicago style papers.

• Hanging Indents
• Ask a Librarian

Chicago Style Resources

• How Do I Format My Class Paper in Chicago Style? If your instructor has specific requirements for the format of your research paper, check with them before preparing your final draft. The most common formatting is presented here.

Things to know before you begin:

• Font:  Times New Roman  
• Font Size:  12 point
• Margins:  1 inch
• Paragraphs: All paragraphs should be indented.
• Spacing: All of the text in the body of your paper should be double-spaced.

Typical Chicago style papers have three sections:

• Bibliography

See the tabs below for a breakdown of how each portion should be formatted.

• Sample Papers

Below you will find an example of an accurately formatted CMOS paper. 

• Sample Paper Chicago Style - PDF Click here to see a sample of an accurately formatted CMOS paper.
• Sample Paper Chicago Style - Word Click here to see a sample of an accurately formatted CMOS paper.

• Your title should be centered and place a third of the way down the page. Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
• Capitalize all the words in your title. If there is a subtitle, place it on the second line.
• Place your course name first, then your name, then the due date of the paper. This should be double-spaced and placed in the bottom third of your paper. 

• Start the body of your paper on the first line of a new page.
• Insert the page number in the top right corner of the page using the header function.
• CMS uses footnotes. Place the footnote after any punctuation. Each number must have an entry at the bottom of the page.

• Center the word "Bibliography" on the first line of a new page.
• Your citations should be alphabetical.
• Each entry is single-spaced with one blank line separating entries.
• Be sure to use a hanging indent for any citations that require more than one line.

Need help formatting your Chicago/Turabian style citations using the 17th edition of the  Chicago Manual of Style ? Click the image or link below to go to the citation guide.

• Chicago Style Citations

Need help learning what hanging indents are and how to create them using Google Docs or Microsoft Word? 

• Hanging Indents This page gives a brief description of what they are, where to find information on when and how to properly use them, and also video tutorials on how to create them.

Need help learning what footnotes are and  how to create them  using Google Docs or Microsoft Word? 

• Footnotes This page gives a brief description of what they are, where to find information on when and how to properly use them, and also video tutorials on how to create them.
• << Previous: MLA Paper Format
• Next: Footnotes >>
• Last Updated: Jul 19, 2024 3:41 PM
• URL: https://necc.mass.libguides.com/formatting

To cite this LibGuide use the following templates:

APA : Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page . Title of LibGuide. URL

MLA : Northern Essex Community College Library. "Title of Page." Title of LibGuide, Date updated, URL.

Chicago Style (17th ed.): Citation Guide

• Getting Started with Chicago

Formatting a Paper in Chicago Style

Chicago paper visual guide.

• Citing Sources in Chicago Style
• Chicago Style Citation Examples
• Additional Chicago Style Resources
• Citation Guides Homepage

Sample Student Paper

• Sample Chicago Paper

Ask A Librarian

• Paper Formatting
• Bibliography

Chicago Basic Formatting Rules

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the  Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• readable serif font, regular-sized
• example: 12pt Times New Roman
• double space the body of the paper
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• indent the first line of each paragraph by 1/2-inch (tab)
• left-justified for the body of the paper

Page Numbers:

• count the title page as page one, but don't include a page number
• include the page number in the top right corner of all pages except the title page

Formatting Notes:

• Format note numbers as superscripts in the text of your paper
• single space each note (footnote or endnote) but double space between notes

Chicago Title Page

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

Page Number:

• do not include the page number on the title page (but it counts as page 1)

Title Page Heading:

• Paper Title
• Date (Month Day, Year)

Bibliography Formatting

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• needs to start on a new page following the end of your paper
• include the title Bibliography  centered on the first line of the page
• everything after the title is left-justified
• listed in alphabetical order by the first part of the citation (usually the author)
• each entry is single spaced with a double space between each entry
• Each entry should have a hanging indent- or it should start at the left margin and then have all lines after it indented by 1/2-inch

Click on the information circles for tips on how to use Microsoft Word to format your paper in Chicago Style.

• << Previous: Getting Started with Chicago
• Next: Citing Sources in Chicago Style >>
• Last Updated: Jun 10, 2024 3:32 PM
• URL: https://lonestar-online.libguides.com/chicago

Chicago Citation Guide (17th Edition): Sample Paper, Bibliography, & Annotated Bibliography

• What Kind of Source Is This?
• Advertisements
• Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
• Book Reviews
• Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings
• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
• Government Documents
• Images, Artwork, and Maps
• Interviews and Emails (Personal Communications)
• Journal Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Primary Sources
• Religious Texts
• Social Media
• Videos & DVDs
• Works Quoted in Another Source
• No Author, No Date etc.
• Sample Paper, Bibliography, & Annotated Bibliography
• Powerpoint Presentations

On this Page

General paper formatting guidelines, quick rules for a chicago bibliography.

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

Writing an Evaluative Annotation

Tips on Writing & Formatting an Annotated Bibliography

Sample Paper with Bibliography

• Chicago Sample Paper

This sample paper can be used as a template to set up your assignment. It includes a title page, main body paragraph with footnotes, and a bibliography.

Sample Paper with Appendix

• Chicago Sample Paper Template - with Appendix

If you are adding an appendix to your paper there are a few rules to follow that comply with Chicago guidelines:

• The Appendix appears before the Bibliography
• If you have more than one appendix you would name the first appendix Appendix A, the second Appendix B, etc.
• The appendices should appear in the order that the information is mentioned in your essay
• Each appendix begins on a new page

Sample Annotated Bibliography

This sample annotated bibliography shows you the structure you should use to write a Chicago style annotated bibliography and gives examples of evaluative and summary annotations.

It can be used as a template to set up your assignment.

• End-of-Paper Checklist

Finished your assignment? Use this checklist to be sure you haven't missed any information needed for Chicago style.

Useful Links for Annotated Bibliographies

Overview of purpose and form of annotated bibliographies from the Purdue OWL.

Includes a sample annotation from a Chicago Manual of Style annotated bibliography. From the Purdue OWL.

An example of an MLA annotated bibliography. From the Purdue OWL.

Assemble your paper in the following order:

• Body of paper
• Appendix (if needed)
• Bibliography

Use Times New Roman, Size 12 (unless otherwise instructed).

Margins and Indents

Your margins should be 1 inch on all sides.

Indent new paragraphs by one-half inch.

Double-space the main text of your paper.

Single-space the footnotes and bibliography, but add a blank line between entries.

Start numbering your pages on the  second  page of your paper (don't include the title page).

Put your page numbers in the header of the first page of text (skip the title page), beginning with page number 1. Continue numbering your pages to the end of the bibliography.

Place the footnote number at the end of the sentence in which you have quoted or paraphrased information from another source. The footnote number should be in superscript, and be placed  after  any punctuation.

Put your footnotes in the footer section of the page.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. This is called a bibliography.

See an example in the "Sample Paper with Bibliography" box on this page.

Here are nine quick rules for this list:

• Start a new page for your bibliography (e.g. If your paper is 4 pages long, start your bibliography on page 5).
• Centre the title, Bibliography, at the top of the page and do not bold or underline it. Look for the alignment option in Word. 
• Leave two blank lines between the title and the first entry on your list.
• Single-space the list, but leave one blank line between entries.
• Start the first line of each citation at the left margin; each subsequent line should be indented (also known as a "hanging indent").
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the citation. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
• For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first name followed by a period.
• Italicize the titles of full works , such as: books, videos (films and television shows), artwork, images, maps, journals, newspapers, magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of parts of works , such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document. Instead, use quotation marks.

What Is An Annotated Bibliography?

An  annotated bibliography  is a list of citations for various books, articles, and other sources on a topic. The annotated bibliography looks like a Works Cited page but includes an annotation after each source cited. An annotation is a short summary and/or critical evaluation of a source. Annotated bibliographies can be part of a larger research project, or can be a stand-alone report in itself.

Types of Annotations

 A  summary annotation  describes the source by answering the following questions: who wrote the document, what the document discusses, when and where was the document written, why was the document produced, and how was it provided to the public. The focus is on description. 

 An  evaluative annotation  includes a summary as listed above but also critically assesses the work for accuracy, relevance, and quality. Evaluative annotations can help you learn about your topic, develop a thesis statement, decide if a specific source will be useful for your assignment, and determine if there is enough valid information available to complete your project. The focus is on description and evaluation.

• Cite the source using Chicago style.
• Describe the main ideas, arguments, themes, theses, or methodology, and identify the intended audience.
• Explain the author’s expertise, point of view, and any bias he/she may have.
• Compare to other sources on the same topic that you have also cited to show similarities and differences.
• Explain why each source is useful for your research topic and how it relates to your topic.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source.
• Identify the observations or conclusions of the author. 

Remember: Annotations are original descriptions that you create after reading the document. When researching, you may find journal articles that provide a short summary at the beginning of the text. This article abstract is similar to a summary annotation. You may consult the abstract when creating your evaluative annotation, but never simply copy it as that would be considered plagiarism. 

Tips on Writing & Formatting an Annotated Bibliography

• Each annotation should be one paragraph, between three to six sentences long (about 150- 200 words).
• Start with the same format as a regular Bibliography list.
• All lines should be double-spaced. Do not add an extra line between the citations.
• If your list of citations is especially long, you can organize it by topic.
• Try to be objective, and give explanations if you state any opinions.
• Use the third person (e.g., he, she, the author) instead of the first person (e.g., I, my, me)
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• Last Updated: Sep 10, 2024 11:13 AM
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How to Write a Proposal for a Research Paper in Chicago Style

Leah williams.

Writing a research paper requires focus and attention to detail, and the Chicago Manual of Style lays down specific guidelines for students to follow. This is because since 1906, the Chicago Manual of Style has been one of the most widely used guides in the United States. To get started on their assignment, many students prepare a research proposal so the instructor can get an idea of what direction the paper is heading in and if the student is on the right track.

Develop an idea. The key to a well-researched paper is a good topic. Follow your professor's guidelines for the paper and select a topic that is within those instructions. Since Chicago style is often used for humanities courses papers, it is likely that your focus will be on a social science topic.

Once you have selected your topic, you should begin organizing your research. Plan on what kinds of materials you would need to support your paper's main idea. One helpful tool is to write down facts on index cards. Number the cards to correspond with the source that the information originated from. You will be able to quickly reference these sources when you are organizing your thoughts for your proposal.

After your research is organized, it is time to group the pieces of information for a proposal outline. The outline describes how the student will write the research paper. For the proposal, you will want to include your paper's main idea, how you plan to support this idea and a conclusion to wrap up all the details collected through your research. While you do not want to include everything that you are using for the assignment, the proposal should still be a condensed version of the research paper.

Use examples and interesting facts for your proposal. Your intent is to provide a preliminary look as to what will be further described in the paper. You want your professor and other readers to want to read more about your topic.

Format according to Chicago-style rules. Chicago style requires one-inch margins on each side of the page and double spacing for the body of the text (except for block quotes). Add page numbers in the top right-hand corner. Endnotes, footnotes and references should be single spaced.

Proofread your proposal for grammar mistakes. Chicago style has strict rules for grammar and punctuation. Hyphens can be particularly tricky. For example, Chicago style requires a writer to use "rock-and-roll" when the phrase is used as an adjective and "rock and roll" when used as a noun. Glance over your work to ensure that you have no typographical errors or misspellings that could not be picked up from spell checker software. Also, pay attention to word flow to make sure that you were able to correctly explain your argument points. You will also want to pay attention to margins, citation uses and other elements of writing that might have been missed during past revisions.

Make sure you cite your sources correctly. One of the main differences between Chicago and the other style guides is how each guidebook requires citations for references. Most of the lines end in periods. For example, a copy of the "The Chicago Manual of Style" would read like this: University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual of Style: For Authors, Editors, and Copywriters. 14th ed., rev. and expanded. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993.

• Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and representing it as your own. Many colleges do not tolerate acts of plagiarism, and the results of someone caught engaging in it may include failing the assignment or the course. Some schools even expel plagiarism offenders. Be sure you are following the proper citation guidelines outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style.
• If you have any questions about your assignment, contact your professor or, if available, your class graduate assistant. Both would be able to clear up any questions you may have.
• 1 Chicago Manual of Style Online: Chicago Style Q and A: Hyphens, En Dashes, Em Dashes

About the Author

Leah Williams has written for many newspapers, magazines, blogs and websites, including the "Mt. Vernon Register-News" and "Nightlife." She has her bachelor's degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University and is now working on her graduate degree. Williams likes to write about parenting, arts and entertainment, education and features.

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Chicago (Author-Date) Citation Style Guide (17th ed.)

The Chicago style is generally used for scholarly books. It can seem complicated, as it requires you to provide a shortened version of the reference at the bottom of the page using a footnote. However, a simplified version that uses parenthetical references like most other styles also exists. This guide, written by experienced professionals who have worked with many formats, is here to help you understand and use both versions correctly.

This guide is developed in line with The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017.

What is Chicago Citation Style?

The importance of citing and referencing, chicago title page, chicago (author-date) outline, chicago headings and subheadings, chicago reference list, chicago book citation, chicago article citation, chicago conference citation, chicago dissertation citation, chicago lecture citation, chicago website citation, chicago government document citation, chicago style in-text citation, tables and figures in chicago style.

The Chicago style is mostly used for books and other long publications, where it is inconvenient to go to the end every time you want to check a reference. As such, it features a detailed reference to the source in a footnote at the bottom of the page as well as the page number (if applicable). However, if you want to write a shorter paper using the format, there is an Author-Date version that functions in the same manner as APA and Harvard. The footnote-based variation is somewhat similar to Oxford due to its use of the same basic principles.

You may wonder why correct referencing is generally considered so important, taking precedence over most other aspects. Here are some reasons why this is usually the case, even in essays that may not seem so serious or important:

• Fundamentally, a person’s internal knowledge does not enable him or her to be at the forefront of research on his or her own. As such, references show that you know this and use others’ writings to help you.
• You show that your information comes from a source that can be considered trustworthy and unbiased by various scholars who read your work. Many readers will frown upon the use of data from websites unless they belong to large-scale agencies.
• To supplement this point, you have to format your references correctly due to the possibility that a wrongly formatted link will point to a nonexistent work. Referring to a fake work in the hopes that no one will check is a severe offense.
• Most organizations disapprove of plagiarism strongly, and citations are intended to prevent it. The practice can lead to consequences up to and including expulsion from whatever organization you write for and permanent reputation damage.

General Principles of Chicago Style Formatting

• The margins for Chicago style should be 1″ (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Use Times New Roman 12 pt. font (unless the instructions require a different font), double-spaced.
• Name reference list either “References” or “Works Cited.”
• Alphabetize the sources on the reference list by the last names of the authors (or, if no author or editor is given, by the title or, failing that, a descriptive phrase).
• For successive entries by the same author(s), translator(s), editor(s), or compiler(s), a 3-em dash replaces the name(s) after the first appearance. The entries are arranged chronologically by year of publication in ascending order, not alphabetized by title.

The title is placed in the center of the page and written in bold. Use a colon to separate the main title from the subtitle. The subtitle (if any) should be written below the title line.

Student’s name, tutor’s name, other class information, and date are located in the lower part of the page, written in sentence case.

There should be no page numbers on the title page or page with the table of contents/outline.

There are 2 basic types of outlines for you to choose (unless your tutor gives you a template): a traditional table of contents or a simple outline.

Example of a table of contents

Example of an outline

Level 1: Centered, Bold, Each Word is Capitalized

Level 2: Centered, Italicized, Capitalized

Level 3: Flush Left, Bold, Capitalized

Level 4: Flush left, regular font, sentence case

Level 5: Placed at the beginning of the paragraph . Can be italicized or bold, sentence case. A period is used to separate the subheading and the rest of the text in the paragraph.

The reference list is inserted at the end of your paper; any source that you use needs to be included in the reference page and cited in the text.

Indent all lines after the first line in the entry (hanging indent); the lines should be indented one-half inch (1.27 cm) from the left margin of your paper.

• Do not forget to invert authors’ names: Last Name, First Name. Example: Clifton, Lucille.
• The reference list is always alphabetized by the first word in the reference entry (from A to Z).
• When alphabetizing titles or group names as authors, go by the first significant word (disregard a, an, the )
• In the titles of your sources in the text and on a reference page in Chicago style, all words except for articles and prepositions should be capitalized.
• Italicization is applied to books and periodical journals’ titles.
• Double quotation marks are used for the titles of articles and book chapters.

Chicago Style References

General format

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Clifton, Lucille. 2023. The Book of Light . Washington: Copper Canyon Press.

Two or three authors

Author’s Last Name, First Name, First Name Last Name, and First Name Last Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Killen, Roy, and Mitch O’Toole. 2023. Effective Teaching Strategies. Melbourne: Cengage AU.

Noe, Raymond A., John R. Hollenbeck, and Barry Gerhart. 2020. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Four or more authors

The names of first ten authors are listed and then “et al.” is added.

Author’s Last Name, First Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name et al. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Bratton, John, Jeff Gold, Andrew Bratton, and Laura Steele. 2021. Human Resource Management. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Corporate author

Organization Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

World Health Organization. 2021. Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Articles at the beginning of book titles are omitted to maintain alphabetical order.

Title of the Book . Year of Publication. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Mythology: Myths, Legends and Fantasies . 2003. Croydon: Aurora Metro Books.

Multiple works by the same author

The works are arranged in chronological order. A 3-em dash and period replace the author’s name in every subsequent reference entry.

Fromm, Erich. 2021. The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. —. 2023. The Fear of Freedom. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Multiple works published in the same year by the same author

The works are arranged in alphabetical order by title. The letters “a,” “b,” “c,” etc. follow the year of publication in each entry. These assist readers in distinguishing the sources cited parenthetically.

Brodsky, Joseph. 2021a. Less than One: Selected Essays . London: Penguin Press. —. 2021b. On Grief And Reason: Essays . London: Penguin Press.

Edition other than first

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . # ed. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Armstrong, Michael, and Stephen Taylor. 2020. Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. 15th ed. New York: Kogan Page Publishers.

Reprint edition

Author’s Last Name, First Name. (Year of Initial Publication) Year of Reprint Publication. Title of the Book . # ed. Initial Publisher’s Location: Initial Publisher’s Name. Reprint Publisher’s Location: Reprint Publisher’s Name. Citations refer to Reprint edition.

Austen, Jane. (1813) 2024. Pride and Prejudice . London: T. Egerton. Reprint, New York: Penguin Classics. Citations refer to the Penguin edition.

An edited book with no author

Editor’s Last Name, First Name, ed. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Helms, Marilyn M., ed. 2021. Encyclopedia of Management. 5th ed. Farmington Hills: Thomson.

Multivolume works

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Years of Publication. Title of the Book . # vols. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Harnack, Adolf. 2020. History of Dogma. Vol. 1. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Harnack, Adolf. 2020-21. History of Dogma. 2 vols. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers.

A translated book

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Years of Publication. Title of the Book . Translated and edited by Editor/Translator’s First Name Last Name. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. 2023. The Idiot . Translated and edited by Alan Myers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Encyclopedia/dictionary

Swators, William H., Peter Kivisto, Barbara J. Denison, and James McClennon, eds. 2024. Encyclopedia of Religion and Society . Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.

Chapter in an edited book

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Years of Publication. “Chapter Title.” In Title of the Book , edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, pages–pages. Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name.

Yazıcı, Yasemin Erkan. 2023. “Conspiracy Theories at the Prague Cemetery.” In Architecture in Contemporary Literature , edited by Nevnihal Erdoğan and Hikmet Temel Akarsu, 102-112. Dubai: Bentham Science Publishers.

E-book / Online Book

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. E-book Format.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. E-library Name.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of the Book . Publisher’s Location: Publisher’s Name. URL.

Austen, Jane. 2024. Pride and Prejudice . New York: Penguin Classics. EPUB.

Borel, Brooke. 2024. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ProQuest Ebrary.

Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. 2024. The Hobbit or There and Back Again . New York: Harper Collins. https://www.readanybook.com/ebook/the-hobbit-17.

Journal article in print

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Article.” Full Title of the Journal volume number (issue number): page numbers.

Vrontis, Demetris, Michael Christofi, Vijay Pereira, Shlomo Tarba, Anna Makrides, and Eleni Trichina. 2022. “Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Advanced Technologies and Human Resource Management: A Systematic Review.” The International Journal of Human Resource Management 33 (6): 1237-1266.

Strohmeier, Stefan. 2020. “Digital Human Resource Management: A Conceptual Clarification.” German Journal of Human Resource Management 34, no. 3 (August): 345-365.

Garg, Swati, Shuchi Sinha, Arpan Kumar Kar, and Mauricio Mani. 2022. “A Review of Machine Learning Applications in Human Resource Management.” International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management , no. 5, 1590-1610.

• If there is no volume but only an issue, write “no.” before the issue and separate the issue and pages with a comma.
• If Month/Season is known, include it in brackets after the issue number and write “no.” before the issue.

Online journal article

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Article.” Full Title of the Journal volume number (issue number): page numbers. DOI / URL.

Singh, Anjali, Weng Marc Lim, Sumi Jha, Satish Kumar, and Maria Vincenza Ciasullo. 2023. “The State of the Art of Strategic Leadership.” Journal of Business Research 158 (1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113676.

Newspaper and magazine articles in print

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Article.” Full Title of the Newspaper/Magazine, Month Date, Year,page numbers.

Chavkin, Sasha, Caitlin Gilbert, Anjali Tsui, and Anahad O’Connor. 2024. “As Obesity Rises, Big Food and Dietitians Push ‘Anti-Diet’ Advice.” The Washington Post , April 3, 2024, 12-14.

The Washington Post . 2024. “Should I Take a Multivitamin? Here’s What the Science Says.” April 1, 2024, 1-4.

• If there is no author, the magazine/newspaper title stands for the author.

Online newspaper and magazine articles

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Article.” Full Title of the Newspaper/Magazine, Month Date, Year. URL.

Farivar, Cyrus. 2024. “How TikTok Shop Became the Internet’s Favorite New Dollar Store.” Forbes , April 4, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cyrusfarivar/2024/04/04/how-tiktok-shop-became-the-internets-favorite-new-dollar-store/?sh=26df9155676b.

• State edition of the magazine in parentheses after the magazine title: Guardian (UK edition).

Conference proceedings/presentations

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Paper.” Paper presented at Conference , City, State/Country, Month Date(s).

Papathanasiou, Anastasia, Anthi Tiliakou, Cynthia S. Kwok, Ioanna Moutafi, and Olga Kakavogianni. 2020. “The Human Remains of the Late Bronze Age Cemetery of Glyka Nera.” Paper presented at the International Conference, Athens, Greece, May 27‐31.

Thesis or dissertation

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Paper.” Degree statement, University.

French-Nelson, Kerri. 2023. “Bridging Support: Examining the Effectiveness of Online Peer Mentors in an Adult Learner Precollege Program.” PhD diss., Middle Tennessee State University.

• If the thesis / dissertation contains a title of the book, write only the book name in Italics: “King Lear and Its Folktale Analogues.”

Lecture/presentation

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. “Title of the Paper.” Lecture/Presentation, University, Location, Month Date, Year.

Jackson, Sean. 2023. “The Basics of Cloud Computing.” Lecture, the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, October 10, 2023.

Entire website: corporate author

Organization Name. Year. Name of the Website (website). Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

WHO. 2024. World Health Organization (website). Accessed March 22, 2024. http://www.who.int/en/.

• The word “website” may be added in brackets after the website name (if the type of the source is unclear).

Website (no date)

Organization Name. n.d. Name of the Website (website). Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

CivicPlus Content Management System. n.d. City of Ithaca, New York (website). Accessed April 6, 2024. http://www.cityofithaca.org/.

Page from a website

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of the Page.” Name of the Website. Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

Nash, Aleesha. 2023. “Our Favorite Digital Illustration Apps for Beginners.” Ehow. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.ehow.com/13778283/must-have-digital-illustration

Page with unknown author

Organization Name. Year. “Title of the Page.” Name of the Website. Last modified Month Year/Accessed Month Date, Year. URL

Yahoo. 2023. “Welcome to the Yahoo Privacy Policy.” Yahoo.com. Last modified July 1, 2023. https://legal.yahoo.com/us/en/yahoo/privacy/index.html.

• Use a website/organization name as the author.
• Add the “last modified” or “accessed” date.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Image Title.” Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

Jean, James. 2024. “Bear.” Accessed January 24, 2024. http://www.jamesjean.com/2024/r9pv11w6oytus5u0vs0v4d5jorrwdf.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of the Post.” Name of the Blog (blog). Month Date, Year. URL.

Mosunic, Chris. 2024. “Why Is Anxiety More Common in Women? Plus, 8 Tips to Cope.” Calm (blog), March 25, 2024. https://www.calm.com/blog/women-anxiety.

Social media

Author’s Last Name, First Name (nickname). Year. “Title of the Post.” Name of Social Media, Month Date, Year of access. URL

APA Style. 2021. “A New Way to Master APA Style Is Here!” Facebook, September 1, 2021, https://www.facebook.com/APAStyle/posts/6734360253256004.

Souza, Pete (@petesouza). 2024. “Nine years ago today.” Instagram photo, March 13, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/petesouza/p/C4c7tqPrNcU/.

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of the Video.” YouTube video, Length. Accessed Month Date, Year. URL.

Accounting Stuff. 2021. “Learn Accounting in Under 5 Hours.” YouTube video, 4:50:58. Accessed April 14, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPBhGkBN30s.

Title of the Video. Year of Production. Directed by First Name Last Name. City: Company, DVD.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. 2022. Directed by Anthony Fabian. New York: Focus Features, DVD.

Government publication/standard

Organization Name. Year. Title of Government Publication . Number. URL.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2020. World Social Report 2020: Inequality in a Rapidly Changing World. No. 23211. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/02/World-Social-Report2020-FullReport.pdf.

Books: one author

Note that no punctuation is used between the name and the date, but page number is separated by a comma.

Example: According to the observations, “traditional industrial psychology no longer met the variedneeds of organizations” (Gallos 2024, 12).

When the information from the source is paraphrased, the page number is not required.

Example: The most commonly used definition of organization development is unsuitable forcontemporary corporate reality (Gallos 2024).

All authors are listed after the citation in the same order as in the references list. The word “and” is used to separate the authors.

Example: “Morality, it could be argued, represents the way that people would like the world to work —whereas economics represents how it actually does work” (Levitt and Dubner 2023, 11).

More than three authors

List only the first of the authors from the list followed by et al.

Example: There is a visible shift towards the experience-based incentives in the HRM field (Sunderset al. 2022).

Provide the name of the chapter’s author.

Example: Applicability of school education is currently a priority among educators (Savery 2024).

Multiple sources

If more than one source is cited in the same sentence, list them alphabetically and separate with a semicolon.

Example: Most definitions characterize OD as managed vertically (Chang 2021; Smith 2020; Wright 2023).

Different authors with same surnames

Use initials before last names to distinguish between the authors.

Example: Globalization is credited for fueling the off-shore practices (H. Wang 2021). However,according to Y. Wang (2022), its impact on diversification of markets is often overlooked in this context.

Same year/same author

If an author has more than one publication in one year, write author’s last name followed by the date and a corresponding letter from the references list.

Example: Perceived conflict is a stage at which the events are identified as a source of disturbance(Finkelman 2021a, Finkelman 2012b).

Source with no date

If the date of publication cannot be ascertained, write the author’s last name followed by the comma and “n.d.”

Example: Despite the best efforts of the researchers, the neither of these claims was corroborated (Maxwell, n.d.).

Source quoted in another work

Example: The original work by Einstein contained numerous arithmetical errors (quoted in Aslan 2023).

Scholarly journal article

Journal citation shares the citation style with books but often requires mentioning the page.

Example: There is a direct relation between employee engagement and productivity (Johnson et al. 2024, 533).

Newspaper article

Example: The procession participants were “treated in the most unacceptable way” (Barber 2021,D2).

Entire website

Use the name of the website followed by the date of publication or the date of accessing the source.

Example: The rules of the site explicitly forbid using it only for business purposes (World Health Organization 2021).

Include the name of the author instead of the name of the resource.

Example: Value added may or may not result in changes of the product’s price (Stephens 2023).

If the information comes from an organization or other corporate entity, list its name in the place of the author.

Example: Privacy and integrity are the focus of the new regulations (British Government 2024).

Use the name of the website in an in-text citation.

Example: (Google 2021).

Page with unknown author and date

Use the name of the website followed by a comma and “n.d”.

Example: Despite the best efforts of experts, the content of the manuscript remains unknown (WHO n.d.).

List the title of the video and a publication/access date.

The absurdity of the situation reaches its peak in the apprehension scene ( Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris 2022).

Write the lecture author and date.

Example: Economies of scale have strong influence on off-shoring practices (Donnerly 2024).

List the name of the organization followed by the year of publication.

Example: Ethylmercury in standard doses has no known effect on health (USFDA 2024).

Example: (APA Style 2021) (Souza 2024)

Dissertation / thesis

List the author name and publication date.

Example: Traditional shrimp industry was the first to feel the impact of globalization (Jones 2021).

Conference proceedings

Authors’ names are followed by the year of the publication.

Example: Critical approach was considered evident only in a fraction of cases (Gentry and Simmons 2021).

The Chicago citation style demands that figures and tables are treated slightly differently, though overall, their use is similar. You should place both figures and tables in the paper’s body, between separate lines of text. However, while you are free to put tables wherever they are most appropriate, you have to present figures immediately after they have been mentioned for the first time (see figure 1).

Figure 1: Glass World (Environmental Science, n.d.).

Accessed August 18, 2023, https://www.environmentalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NEPA-CEQA-640×425.jpeg

You introduce a figure by inserting a note immediately below it that says “Figure #:” and is followed by a description and an in-text citation. With tables, you insert the table number and a short description of the contents above the object.

Environmental Science. n.d. “Glass World.” Accessed August 18, 2023. https://www.environmentalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NEPA-CEQA-640×425.jpeg.

Chicago A-D Format Essay Examples

• A Christmas Carol by Dickens
• A Lesson Before Dying: Summary, Characters, Theme, and Personal Opinion
• Causes and Effects of Child Labor
• Life of Pi: Key Characters, Plot, and Themes
• Moral of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Main Characters and Themes of The Bluest Eye

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How to Write an Annotated Bibliography in Chicago/Turabian Style

Published on October 15, 2019 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on April 9, 2024.

While a standard Chicago style bibliography provides publication details of your sources, an annotated bibliography also provides a summary (and often an evaluation) of each source.

Turabian style , a version of Chicago style specifically designed for students and researchers, provides formatting guidelines for an annotated bibliography. A typical entry might look like this:

Kenny, Anthony. A New History of Western Philosophy: In Four Parts . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.

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Table of contents

How to write annotations, how to format an annotated bibliography.

The purpose of annotations is to give the reader relevant information about each source you have consulted. There are two main types of annotation.

Descriptive annotations simply describe your sources, briefly summarizing their arguments and ideas . They are useful for keeping a record of your reading and giving a quick overview of sources related to your topic. 

Evaluative annotations go into more detail and provide your own perspective on each source. For example, you may evaluate your sources by:

• assessing the strength of the author’s arguments.
• describing the ways in which the source is helpful or unhelpful to your own research.
• evaluating the evidence presented in the source, discussing the credibility .

Check the requirements of your assignment to find out whether you need to write descriptive or evaluative annotations.

How long should annotations be?

Annotations can vary in length according to the approach taken and the length of the source. You may write a couple of sentences describing the argument of an essay, or several paragraphs summarizing and evaluating a book .

A good guideline is to aim for 50 to 200 words for each source. Consult your instructor to check how long your annotated bibliography should be and how many sources you need to include.

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Each entry starts with a Chicago style citation , which gives full publication details of the source. The citation is formatted the same as a normal bibliography entry:

• Single-spaced
• Each line after the first indented ( hanging indent )
• Organized in alphabetical order by author last name

The annotation appears on a new line directly after the source citation. The whole annotation is indented, to make it clear when the annotation ends and a new source appears.

According to Turabian guidelines, annotations should be formatted the same as the main text of any paper:

• Double-spaced
• Left-aligned
• Indent the first line of each new paragraph

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