Guidelines for Writing References in a Project Report

Writing references in a project report is an essential aspect of academic and professional writing. It not only gives credit to the original sources of information but also enables readers to locate these sources for further reading. Here, we will discuss the general guidelines and formats for writing references using common citation styles, specifically APA, MLA, and Chicago. Additionally, we will provide tips for ensuring consistency and a clear reference list.

Common Citation Styles

APA American Psychological Association Style

Books

In APA style, books are formatted as follows:

Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.

Example:

Smith J. 2020. Understanding psychology: A guide to the human mind. Academic Press.

Journal Articles

Journal articles are formatted as follows:

Author Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume (Issue), page range.

Example:

Brown L. 2021. The effects of sleep on cognitive performance. Journal of Sleep Research, 30(2), 123-130.

MLA Modern Language Association Style

Books

Books in MLA style are formatted as follows:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Example:

Smith John. Understanding Psychology. Academic Press, 2020.

Journal Articles

Journal articles in MLA style are formatted as follows:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Article. Title of Journal, vol. number no. number, Year, pages.

Example:

Brown Lisa. The Effects of Sleep on Cognitive Performance. Journal of Sleep Research, vol. 30 no. 2, 2021, pp. 123-130.

NB:

Check the specific guidelines for the citation style you are required to use as there might be variations in formatting rules.

Chicago Style

Books

In Chicago style, books are formatted as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

Example:

Smith John. Understanding Psychology. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

Journal Articles

Journal articles in Chicago style are formatted as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Article. Title of Journal, volume number no. number, Year: page range.

Example:

Brown Lisa. The effects of sleep on cognitive performance. Journal of Sleep Research, 30 no. 2, 2021: 123-130.

General Tips

Consistency: Ensure that all references are formatted consistently throughout your report. Order: List references alphabetically by the last name of the first author. Details: Include all necessary details such as authors, publication year, title, publisher, and DOI or URL for online sources. Footnotes/Endnotes: Some styles like Chicago also allow for footnotes or endnotes which can be used for citations instead of a reference list.

Example Reference List

Here’s how a reference list might look in APA style:

Brown L. 2021. The effects of sleep on cognitive performance. Journal of Sleep Research, 30(2), 123-130. Smith J. 2020. Understanding psychology: A guide to the human mind. Academic Press.