Creating a Work Cited Page on Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
The work cited page, also known as the works cited or reference list, is a crucial component of academic writing that provides credit to the sources used to support the arguments and claims made in a research paper. Writing a work cited page on Google Docs is a straightforward process that requires some basic knowledge of research and citation styles. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to create a work cited page on Google Docs.
Step 1: Choose a Citation Style
Before starting to write your work cited page, you need to choose a citation style. Google Docs supports two major citation styles: MLA and APA. For this article, we will use MLA style.
Step 2: Set Up Your Google Docs Document
- Open Google Docs and create a new document by clicking on the "New Document" button.
- Set the document template to "Blank" by clicking on the "Format" menu and selecting "Document template" > "Blank".
- Delete any existing content in the document by clicking on the "Edit" button.
Step 3: Create a New List
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Table" > "Table".
- Create a new table with the following columns:
- Title: the title of the source
- Author: the author of the source
- Year: the year of publication
- Pages: the number of pages in the source
- Title Level: the title level of the source
- Type: the type of source (book, article, website, etc.)
- Source: the source itself
- Endnote: the endnote (if applicable)
- Set the table width to "Standard" by clicking on the "Format" menu and selecting "Table" > "Table width" > "Standard".
- Set the table height to "Standard" by clicking on the "Format" menu and selecting "Table" > "Table height" > "Standard".
Step 4: Add Entries to the Table
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert paragraph" > "New paragraph".
- Select the "Author" column and enter the author’s name.
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert link" > "New link".
- Select the "Author" column and enter the author’s last name (before last name).
- Repeat steps 2-4 for each entry in the table.
Step 5: Format the Table
- Select the entire table by clicking on the "Select" button.
- Click on the "Format" menu and select "Format paragraph".
- Select "Bold" from the drop-down menu and choose the level of bolding you want to use.
- Select "Small" from the drop-down menu and choose the font size you want to use.
Step 6: Add the Work Cited Page Header
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert paragraph" > "New paragraph".
- Select the "Header" column and enter the page number and title of your work cited page.
- Select the "Header" column and enter the "Works Cited" (or "References") field.
- Select the "Header" column and enter the "Formatting Instructions" field.
- Repeat steps 1-4 for each entry in the table.
Step 7: Insert the Table into the Document
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert table" > "Insert table".
- Select the table created in Step 3 and insert it into the document.
Step 8: Format the Work Cited Page
- Select the entire work cited page by clicking on the "Select" button.
- Click on the "Format" menu and select "Format paragraph".
- Select "Bold" from the drop-down menu and choose the level of bolding you want to use.
- Select "Small" from the drop-down menu and choose the font size you want to use.
- Select "Center" from the drop-down menu and choose the alignment you want to use.
Step 9: Add Endnotes (Optional)
- Select the entire work cited page by clicking on the "Select" button.
- Click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert paragraph" > "New paragraph".
- Select the "Endnote" column and enter the note or reference.
- Select the "Endnote" column and enter the "Add note" field.
- Repeat steps 1-4 for each entry in the table.
Table: Work Cited Page Format
| Column | Entry |
|---|---|
| Title | Title |
| Author | Author |
| Year | Year |
| Pages | Pages |
| Title Level | Title Level |
| Type | Type |
| Source | Source |
| Endnote | Endnote |
Tips and Variations
- To insert a bibliography instead of a work cited page, select the entire document by clicking on the "Select" button and then click on the "Bibliography" tab.
- To add multiple citations, select the entire table and then click on the "Insert" menu and select "Insert table".
- To add a citation style, select the "Insert" menu and select "Insert paragraph" > "New paragraph".
- To customize the formatting of the work cited page, select the "Insert" menu and select "Insert paragraph" > "New paragraph".
Conclusion
Creating a work cited page on Google Docs is a straightforward process that requires some basic knowledge of research and citation styles. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a work cited page that meets the requirements of most citation styles. Remember to customize the formatting of your work cited page as needed to ensure it meets your school’s or instructor’s requirements.
