What This Document Is
This document is a style and formatting guide created by the History Department of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. It provides specific instructions for adhering to Chicago style guidelines when writing history papers, focusing on footnotes and bibliographies (or Works Cited lists). It’s designed to be used alongside other academic resources like the *Documentation of Academic Work* and the *Little, Brown Handbook*, with its rules taking precedence in case of conflict.
Why This Document Matters
This guide is essential for any student enrolled in history courses at West Point—and, by extension, Boston College given its use in HIST 2001—who needs to properly cite sources. Consistent and accurate citation is crucial for academic integrity and demonstrating a thorough understanding of historical research. It ensures clarity, avoids plagiarism, and allows readers to verify information. It’s used during the writing process, as students prepare research papers and other scholarly work.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This guide focuses *solely* on formatting citations. It does not offer guidance on research methods, historical analysis, or argumentation. It assumes a basic understanding of Chicago style and doesn’t cover every possible citation scenario. Users may still need to consult broader style manuals for more complex cases.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes detailed examples of how to format citations for: books (single, two/three, and more than three authors), edited volumes, chapters within edited volumes, and journal articles. It demonstrates both footnote formatting (for first use and subsequent references) and the corresponding bibliographic entries. The preview above shows examples of these citation types. It does *not* include comprehensive coverage of all citation types (e.g., websites, interviews, government documents) or detailed explanations of Chicago style principles beyond the examples provided.