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• Tips on Organizing Your Paper
• Preparing a Bibliography or Works Cited Page
• How to Prepare Your Bibliography Page
• How to Prepare Your Works Cited Page
• MLA Formatting for Your Bibliography or Works Cited Page
• Sample Works Cited or Bibliography Page
• Resource Links

TIPS ON ORGANIZING YOUR PAPER

Folder:

• Use a two-pocket folder to keep all parts of your paper together (i.e. note cards, rough drafts, outlines, computer print-outs, teacher requirements).
• Write the subject and due date on the cover. Example: Science Fair Paper: Due Nov. 1.
• Remember to complete your paper two nights ahead of the due date in case of printer problems. If there is a printer problem, you are expected to bring in your paper on disk or CD so that it can be printed at school.

Topic:

• Is your topic too broad? Too narrow?
• Does the library have enough information on your topic?
• Has you topic been approved by your teacher?

Introduction: In the first paragraph of your paper, you will state the argument you are going to prove about your topic, or the point you are going to make about your topic. This statement should be the last sentence of the paragraph.

Note Cards:

• Are you writing key words and phrases?
• Is the information on each card related to one topic and from one source only?
• Is the number of the source and page listed?
• Is your name on the back of each card?

Sources:

• Have you used a numbered note card for every source that you think you may use?
• Have you included information from all of sources that your teacher required?
• Have you used different kinds of sources?
• Books (circulating or reference)
• Encyclopedias (print, CD-ROM or electronic)
• Magazines and newspapers (print or electronic)
• School Databases (These sites are formally edited and contain accurate information). See Resource Link.
• Internet (Remember to use only the sites that your teacher has approved for your project. Be aware that the Internet is not regulated and that not all sources on the Internet provide accurate or current information).

Outline:

• Have you used the correct format?
• Have you used your general ideas?
• Have you included examples of each idea?

Bibliography Rough Draft:

• Have you included all the sources that you might use?
• Have you used the correct format and punctuation? See Preparing a Bibliography or Works Cited Page Link and MLA Formatting Link
• Did you put all entries in alphabetical order?

Organization:

• Have you put your note cards into groups?
• Have you arranged your note cards within each group?

Rough Draft of Paper:

• Did you write your ideas from your cards? DO NOT plagiarize!
• Did you include your introduction and conclusion paragraphs?
• Have you checked spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation?
• Does the paper make sense and flow from your introduction to your conclusion?

Final Draft of Paper:

• Does it include all of the requirements given by your teacher?
• Does it follow the proper format of presenting a paper? See format of paper below.
• Did you include the final draft of the Bibliography or Works Cited Page as your last page?

Final Draft of Bibliography:

• Did you use the all of the sources that were required for this paper?
• Did you delete sources that you did not use?
• Did you add sources in which you found more information that were not on your Bibliography Rough Draft?

Format of Paper:

• Is the font size 12?
• Did you use clear type (not a fancy or script font)?
• Are the margins 1” at the top, bottom, and sides?
• Did you indent the first word of each paragraph?
• Did you double-space the entire paper?

*Save all parts of your paper (note cards, rough drafts, etc.) until you receive your grade.

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PREPARING A BIBLIOGRAPHY or WORKS CITED PAGE

What is a Bibliography Page? This page is used by both Lower School and Middle School students and is attached to the end of the report. A Bibliography Page is a list of resources that you used to obtain information for your report. Use this page if you did not have to include parenthetical citations in your paper. See How to Prepare Your Bibliography Page.

What is a Works Cited Page? This page is used by Middle School students and is attached to the end of the report. A Works Cited Page is a list of resources that you document with parenthetical citations in the body of your paper. Example: (Smith 145). All of the resources listed on this page must be cited in the paper. See How to Prepare Your Works Cited Page.

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HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE

• No fancy font should be used.
• The entire page should have font size 12.
• The entire page is double-spaced and printed with black ink only.
• All of the margins are one inch.
• This page is titled: Bibliography

• The title is centered.
• Only the first B is capitalized.
• Do not underline the title or use boldface.

• All entries are in alphabetical order.
• Each entry begins at the left margin. The entry continues across the page, as though you were typing a sentence, until you reach the right margin.
• If the entry is more than one line, you must press the enter key at the right margin and then indent the second and third lines ½ inch from the margin by pressing the tab key.
• One space follows all punctuation.
• This page is the last page of your paper.

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HOW TO PREPARE YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE

• No fancy font should be used.
• The entire page should have font size 12.
• The entire page is double-spaced and printed in black ink only.
• All of the margins are one inch.
• This page is titled: Works Cited

• The title is centered.
• The letters W and C are capitalized.
• Do not underline the title or use boldface.

• All the entries are in alphabetical order.
• Each entry begins at the left margin. The entry continues across the page, as though you were typing a sentence, until you reach the right margin.
• If the entry is more than one line, you must press the enter key at the right margin and then indent the second and third lines ½ inch from the margin by pressing the tab key.
• One space follows all punctuation.
• This page is the last page of your paper.

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MLA FORMATTING FOR YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY OR WORKS CITED PAGE

This example page does not list the format for all possible sources of information. If your resource type is not listed here, please see the librarian..

BOOK

One author—

Author’s Last Name, First Name Middle Name. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date.

Two Authors—

1 st Author’s Last Name, First Name Middle Name, and 2 nd Author’s First Name Last Name. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date.

More than 2 Authors

1 st Author’s Last Name, First Name, et al. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date.

Work in an Anthology

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Section of book.” Title of Anthology. Compiler Person’s Name. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date.

Editor

Editor’s Last Name, First Name, ed. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date.

PRINT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Signed Article

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Encyclopedia Title. Copyright Date, vol. #, pp. pages.

Unsigned Article

“Article Title.” Encyclopedia Title. Copyright Date, vol. #, pp. pages.

PRINT PERIODICAL

Magazine

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Magazine Title. Day Month Year of Issue: pp. pages.

Newspaper

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title. (Include City it not in title) Day Month Year of Issue: pp. pages.

ELECTRONIC SOURCE

Databases (EBSCO host, Facts On File, SIRS, Gale Authors, etc.)

Electronic Magazine (EBSCO host or SIRS):

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Title of Magazine. Day Month Year: pages. Name of Database. Friends School Library, Mullica Hill, NJ. Day Month Year of access <website address>.

Electronic Encyclopedia (EBSCO host or SIRS):

“Article Title.” Title of Encyclopedia. Copyright Date. Publisher. Name of Database. Friends School Library, Mullica Hill, NJ. Day Month Year of access <website address>.

General Database (Facts On File or Gale Authors):

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Name of Source. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date. Name of Database. <website address>.

CD-ROM Encyclopedia

Author’s last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Title of Product. Vers. #. Publication format. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Date

Internet Websites

Title of Site. Name of editor or author (if given). Day Month Year of publication or update. Name of organization or institution associated with the site. Day Month Year of access <website address>.

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SAMPLE WORKS CITED OR BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE

Smith

Works Cited

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RESOURCE LINKS: DATABASES AND WEBSITES  

Databases – Reminder: Databases are formally edited and contain accurate information.

USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ALL STUDENTS

Internet Public Library (www.ipl.org) Reference Center for children and adults that provides a multitude of links to school related topics.

Q and A New Jersey (www.qandanj.org) Live, interactive search assistance and homework help for NJ residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tutoring help for grades 4-12.

New Jersey Clicks (www.jerseyclicks.org) If you have a public library card, you can search these 15 full-text databases (also in Spanish)

Gloucester County Library (www.gcls.org) If you have a Gloucester County Library card, you can search these databases & encyclopedias.

Websites – Reminder: The Internet is not regulated and not all sources on the Internet provide accurate or current information. Use only the websites that are listed here or that your teacher has approved for your projects.

• www.weather.com
• www.50states.com
• www.cnn.com
• www.enchantedlearning.com
• http://www.encarta.msn.com

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