Chemistry: Writing and Citation Guides

ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication - 2020 - Link leads to eBook in Gitenstein Library

A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry; Call number: QD8.5 D38 2010

RefWorks

RefWorks is a web-based program that allows you to easily collect, manage, and organize bibliographic citations by interfacing with databases. RefWorks also operates directly with MS Word, making it easy to import citations and incorporate them into your writing as properly formatted footnotes or parenthetical citations according to the style of your choice.

• RefWorks LibGuide
  • This is a LibGuide adapted by TCNJ librarians for TCNJ users.
• RefWorks tutorial videos 
  • The producers of RefWorks have a series of videos on using their product.

NOTE: The RefWorks providers themselves urge you to examine your citations carefully to make sure they are correctly imported and formatted. To do this, you may need to consult the official style guide for whichever citation style your course requires. 

Zotero

Zotero is a free and open-source software that also allows you to collect and organize bibliographic citations. Like RefWorks, it also allows you to create citations and bibliographies in a number of styles. Zotero has a couple of specific advantages that set it apart from paid products like RefWorks and EndNote:

• It is free and open source. You will be able to use it for your entire career, no matter what institution you go to.
• Zotero has tools to integrate with G-Suite and GoogleDocs. Because it is open source, it tends to adapt more quickly to new technologies than other programs. 

Although it does have a web version, to work best, Zotero needs to be downloaded onto your computer. To get started, visit Zotero's website here. Then use these resources to help get your Zotero up and running:

• Zotero Tutorial (YouTube)
• This Guide to Zotero was created by Northwestern University. Some things on it are specific to their students, but if you click around the left-side navigation menu, you can find support for most questions you might have. There is a link to a good "Introduction to Zotero" video in that side navigation. It can also be found by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
• This Beginner's Guide to Zotero was created by the University of New Mexico. If you look in the left hand navigation menu, you'll see links to specific instructions for using Zotero with GoogleDocs. 
• Ask for help from your librarian! Use my contact info on the upper right of this page. 

Journal Articles

Basic Format for ACS:
Author, A. A; Author, B. B; Author, C. C. Title of Article. Journal Abbreviation (italics) Year (boldface), Volume (italics), Inclusive Pagination.

Examples:

Baum, R.M. Alcoholism and Family Abuse in Maggie and The Bluest Eye.  Mos. 1986, 19, 91-105.
Bowering, G.  Baseball and the Canadian Imagination.  Can. Lit. 1986, 108, 115-24.

Basic Format for MLA:

Author, First Name.  Title of Article in Quotes.  Journal Name (italics) Volume.Issue (no space) Year: (Parentheses)

Pagination.  Medium of publication.

Examples:

Baum, Rosalie Murphy. "Alcoholism and Family Abuse in Maggie and The Bluest Eye." Mosaic  
        19.3 (1986): 91-105. Print.

Bowering, George. "Baseball and the Canadian Imagination." Canadian Literature 108
        (1986):115-24. Print.

Books

Basic Format for ACS:

Author. Title of Book; (italics) Publisher: Place of publication, Year of Publication.

Example:

LeCouteur, P.;Burreson, J.  Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History; Putman:  New York, 2003.

Basic Format for MLA

Author Lastname, Firstname.  Title of Book. (italics) Place of publication:  Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Example:

LeCouteur, Pierre, and Jay Burreson.  Napoleon’s Buttons:  How 17 Molecules Changed History.

     New York: Putman, 2003. Print.