Bridgewater College
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
Style Sheet for Research Papers
The Department of Philosophy and Religion requires use of the MLA documentation style. This is the same as the MLA
documentation style taught by Bridgewater College's Department of English.
I.
Reference Books for Writers
The Department of Philosophy and Religion strongly recommends that each student should have access to:
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the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, now in its sixth edition (2003)
This handbook provides necessary information on researching, preparing, and documenting your work. It is on continuous and
permanent reserve behind the circulation counter in the Alexander Mack Memorial Library. This book is a fuller treatment of
topics summarized in Diana Hacker's Rules for Writers (5th edition), which was the reference book required in English
composition courses.
In addition to this specific handbook for writers of research papers, The Department of Philosophy and Religion strongly
recommends that each student should have access to:
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an English grammar handbook (e.g. Warriner's English Grammar, The Confident Writer: A Norton
Handbook, The Rinehart Handbook for Writers, etc.)
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an English handbook on style (e.g. The Little English Handbook, The Elements of Style, etc.)
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a dictionary of the English language (e.g. Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, The American Heritage
Dictionary, etc.)
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a thesaurus of the English language (e.g. Roget's College Thesaurus, Roget's International Thesaurus, etc.)
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II.
Researching and Writing
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Choose a topic that is appropriately narrow.
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State clearly your organization, in your introduction, and carefully follow it throughout your essay.
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Obey all rules of standard, formal English grammar and spelling.
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Fully support and develop your topic with specific citations from the sources you research.
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Cite the source for any method of organization, item of information, or statement of fact or opinion that you borrow.
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Attempt to cite the precise author of whatever you borrow (e.g. not only the editor of an entire book, encyclopedia, etc.,
but the exact author of the essay, article, etc. you are quoting.
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Specific information on documentation is in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, now in its sixth edition
(2003), pp. 139-239.
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The instructor will require you to end your paper with either a "List of Works Cited" (every work you actually quoted or
paraphrased in the essay), or a "List of Works Consulted" (every work you researched, whether or not you actually
quoted or paraphrased it in the paper). Ask your instructor which is preferred.
Please note: the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers point out that the title "List of Works Cited"
usually is more appropriate than the title "Bibliography."
Your instructor may desire that instead of a "List of Works Cited" or "List of Works Consulted," that you
prepare a "Selected Bibliography," "Selected List of Works Consulted," "Annotated List of Works Consulted,"
etc. Confer with your instructor to see exactly what sort of list is desired.
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III.
Special Concerns in Philosophy and Religion Papers
A. Foreign Words and Titles
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Foreign words and phrases (including transliterations) should be underlined.
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It is unnecessary to reproduce German Fraktur text type.
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If your word processor cannot reproduce foreign diacritical marks (e.g. umlauts in German, acute and grave
accents, cedillas in French, tildes in Spanish, etc.), write in these marks neatly and in ink.
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If your word processor cannot reproduce foreign characters at all (e.g. Chinese characters, koiné Greek letters, etc.),
write in these characters, letters, or words neatly and in ink.
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When transliterating Chinese into English, be consistent in using either the Wade-Giles system or the Pinyin system
(in quotations from sources however, quote the word or phrase exactly as the author has it, without regard to the
system you have adopted).
Note: When citing a source from its English translation, give the translator's as well as the author's name in the list at
the end of your paper.
B. Citing Scripture
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Titles of scripture (including books and versions of the Bible, and scripture in other religions) should not be
underlined.
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In parenthetical notes, passages from the Bible are cited by book, chapter, verse, and version. Do not cite page
numbers for a quotation from the Bible's text.
In the American form, the book and chapter is separated by a space, then a colon, then the verse number(s).
EXAMPLE: Mark 6:3-12 NRSV
(This means the book of Mark, chapter six, verses three through twelve in the New Revised Standard Version.)
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EXAMPLE Mark 6:3,12,18 CEV
(This means the book of Mark, chapter six, verse three, verse twelve, and verse eighteen in the Contemporary
English Version.)
EXAMPLE Mark 6:3a NIV
(This means the book of Mark, chapter six, the first part of verse three--the parts of verse are separated by
punctuation breaks--in the New International Version.)
In the British form, a period separates the chapter from the verse numbers.
EXAMPLE: Mark 6.3-12 NEB
(This means the book of Mark, chapter six, verses three through twelve in the New English Bible.)
EXAMPLE: Mark 6.3,12,18 Phillips
(This means the Book of Mark, chapter six, verses three, twelve, and eighteen in J. B. Phillips' translation of the
New Testament.)
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In both the American and British forms, the presence of a letter after a verse number is a reference to a part of that
verse (e.g. Mark 6:3a, Matthew 5.10b, Isaiah 66:3c, Leviticus 27.10d.
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When doing formal research, one must cite the version of the Bible from which a quotation or paraphrase comes.
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One must provide full bibliographical information for the Bible(s) which one has used. In the list at the end of your
paper, provide complete publication information for whatever version(s) of the Bible you have used. Consult with
your instructor to determine which of the following formats is best for the sort of research you are doing.
EXAMPLE:
Attridge, Harold W., gen. ed. The Harper Collins Study Bible New Revised Standard Version with the
Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books (Revised Edition). New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 2006.
OR
The Harper Collins Study Bible New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books
Revised Edition). Gen. Ed. Harold W. Attridge. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 2006.
OR
New Revised Standard Version: The Harper The Harper Collins Study Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books (Revised Edition). Gen. Ed. Harold W. Attridge. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.,
2006.
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When citing annotations, introductions, explanatory notes, etc., which are printed as part of a Bible, give the author,
title, and page information in the way you would for an article or essay. The person who wrote the introduction to a
biblical book wrote the annotations also. That person’s name appears at the end of the introduction to the biblical
book. See your instructor if you cannot find that person’s name.
EXAMPLE:
Duling, Dennis C. "The Gospel According to Matthew." The Harper Collins Study Bible New Revised Standard
Version with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books Revised Edition). Gen. Ed. Harold W.
Attridge. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 2006. 1665-1721.
IV.
Areas Where Persons Often Have Questions
A. Topics covered in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (relevant section numerals are in parentheses).
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Using Contractions (do not use contractions in formal writing) (3.2.7)
Using "AD"; "BC"; "BCE"; and "CE" (7.2)
Using Underlining and Quotation Marks for Titles (3.3, 3.6)
Using Block Quotation (3.7.2)
Using Quotations within Quotations (3.7.7)
Formatting the Heading and Title of your Essay (4.5, and example on p. 320)
Numbering your Essay's pages (4.6)
Formatting the List of Works Cited, List of Works Consulted, Bibliography, etc. (e.g. the publication
information must give the publisher's city, never the state alone, (5.5, 5.6 and example on p. 321)
How to Cite the Bible (3.6.5 & 6.4)
How to Cite Magazines (3.6.3, 5.7.1 & 5.7.6)
How to Cite Encyclopedia Articles or Articles in a Reference Book (e.g. commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc.)
(5.6.8)
How to Cite Public Presentations, Course Lectures, etc. (5.8.11)
How to Cite Interviews (5.8.7)
How to Cite Videos (5.8.3)
How to Cite Electronic Databases (5.9.2)
How to Cite the Internet (5.9.1-5.9.9)
B. Knowing what information to provide to the reader and what information to assume the reader knows:
Write for an audience of intelligent college-educated students (just as you) but who have no prior information on your
topic. Do not write with the instructor as the audience--do not assume what your instructor knows. Explain every detail
that would need explaining to a reader with no background.
C. Knowing how to organize and arrange the essay:
In your introduction, explicitly state your topic, your plan of organization for that topic, and argue for why that plan
covers the topic appropriately. Then, follow your plan of organization exactly.
-6D. Knowing how to quote:
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A quotation must be exact, word-for-word, and must be cited.
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A citation at the end of the paragraph only covers the last statement made in the last sentence of that paragraph. A
writer must not assume that a citation that ends a paragraph can cover any information outside that last statement in
the last sentence.
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A citation refers to a statement of information or idea, not necessarily a sentence (e.g. a writer may have several
citations within one sentence).
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If a writer is borrowing frequently from one source, it is best to make the source's name a part of the sentence itself.
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If a citation refers to a quotation of four lines or more, use block quotation form before the citation.
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Cite every idea you borrow, even ones you only modify. When you give dates or tell about a place or custom, your
instructor will ask "how do you claim to know this?" "You cannot know this intuitively and you have not said what
is your evidence."
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Make clear what is your idea and what is borrowed. Your instructor will ask "Is this only your opinion? (you must
present an argument to support your opinion)." "Is your opinion based on evidence of some kind? (you must present
the evidence)." "Is your opinion based on a source? (the source that makes its own argument and presents evidence
must be cited)."
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The burden is on the writer to signal everything that is borrowed, even in modified form. The reader is to assume
that the writer is a responsible authority for everything written, unless the writer tells the reader otherwise (you
cannot claim to be an authority on the dates in antiquity--you need to cite a source or sources).
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A source is only as good as the argument and evidence that it gives.
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Be careful of hyperbole. Your instructor will hold you to your claims. You will have to give evidence to support
these statements.
Avoid unnecessary hyperbole of importance: "central," "crucial," "very important," "one of the greatest," "the
most important," etc.
Avoid hyperbole of subjective attitude: "wonderful," "incredible," "bold," "earth shattering," "tremendous," etc.
IN ALL THESE MATTERS
1)
THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE REFERENCE BOOKS
(as mentioned in section "I," above),
and
2)
CONSULTATION WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR
ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN HELPIING TO INSURE THE QUALITY OF YOUR WRITTEN RESEARCH.
Revis. 10/17/07 wea