"What's a Chicago Style Essay: A Visual Guide"

Are you a student or researcher tasked with writing an essay in Chicago style? You're in the right place. This guide will help you understand what a Chicago style essay looks like, its key features, and how to format it correctly. Let's dive right in.

Understanding Chicago Style

Chicago style, also known as the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), is a set of guidelines for academic writing and publishing. It's widely used in the humanities, particularly in history, literature, and arts. The CMOS provides rules for citation, formatting, and style, ensuring consistency and clarity in your writing.

What Does a Chicago Style Essay Look Like?

Formatting

Here's a basic overview of how a Chicago style essay is formatted:

• 1-inch margins on all sides
• Double-spaced lines
• 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman
• No extra spaces between paragraphs

Citation and Bibliography

Chicago style offers two main systems for citations and bibliography: Notes-Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date. Here's a brief comparison:

Notes-Bibliography (NB)	Author-Date
Uses footnotes or endnotes for citations	Uses parenthetical in-text citations
Includes a separate bibliography at the end	Includes a reference list at the end

For this article, we'll focus on the Notes-Bibliography system, which is more common in the humanities.

Footnotes and Bibliography

In NB, citations appear as footnotes at the bottom of the page. Here's an example of a footnote citation for a book:

1. Jane Doe, Book Title (Place of Publication: Publisher, 2022), 123.

And here's how you would format the corresponding entry in your bibliography:

Doe, Jane. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, 2022.

In-Text Citations

While NB uses footnotes for citations, you can also include in-text citations for quick reference. Here's an example:

According to Jane Doe, "This is a quote from her book" (Book Title, 123).

Title Page and Header

Your essay should include a title page with your essay title, your name, your institution, and the course or department. Your header should include your last name and the page number.

Tips for Writing in Chicago Style

Here are some tips to help you write in Chicago style:

• Be consistent with your formatting and citation style
• Use the CMOS guidelines for punctuation, capitalization, and other style elements
• Proofread your essay for any formatting or citation errors
• Use the CMOS online or the print manual for detailed guidance

Writing in Chicago style can seem daunting at first, but with practice and understanding, it becomes second nature. Happy writing!