It's important to cite your sources for a science fair project. Here are some examples of how to cite books, online references, and conversations.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Minutes to Hours
Here's How:
- Write the author's last name, first name, and middle name or initial. Two authors are handled a little differently. For example, you would write: Helmenstine, A.M. and John R. Smith, Cool Chemistry Projects, New York: Sterling Pub. Co., Aug. 2005, pp. 1-15.
- Write the name of the article or the chapter of your source in quotes.
- Write and either underline or italicize the title of the book or source.
- Write the place (city, state, country) where the source was published, followed by a colon.
- Write the publisher's name, date of publication, and volume (if applicable), followed by a colon and the page numbers. The abbreviation for page is p.. The abbreviation for pages is pp.. Volume is vol..
- Organize your bibliography by writing your references in alphabetical order, according to the author's last name.
Tips:
- Here is an example for a book or magazine -- Jones, Jenny R., "Science Experiments to Try" Science Time, New York: Sterling Pub. Co., May 2004, Vol. 3:12-15.
- Here is an example for a Web site -- Helmenstine, Anne, About Chemistry Website, http://chemistry.about.com, Oct. 4, 2005.
- Here is an example for a conversation -- Smith, John, Telephone Conversation, Mar. 5, 1993.
- If your instructor has a different method to use for citing references, follow those guidelines. There is more than one correct way to write a bibliography.
What You Need:
- List of Sources - Alphabetized
- Pen/Paper or Computer

