Genealogy and Family History: Writing Family History

The following APA/MLA sites are from the excellent OWL pages at Purdue.

APA

• Books
• Database and Internet Sources
• Interviews, Films and Other Sources
• Other Print Sources
• Sample APA papers (click the Download link in the orange box)

MLA

• Books
• Database and Internet Sources
• Interviews, Films and Other Sources
• Magazine/Journal Articles (print format)
• Sample MLA Papers (Click the Download link in the orange box)
• Works Cited Sample Page

American Anthropological Association (AAA) Style

• AAA Citation Style  - AAA uses The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition, 2003) and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition, 2006). This guide is an outline of style rules basic to AAA style.

Scientific Style

• Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual (6th edition)

Chicago Style

• The Chicago Manual of Style Online Quick Guide - Sample citations for the Chicago Style of citations.
• Writer's Handbook at the University of Wisconsin

Additional APA/MLA Resources

• Basics of APA Style Guide (Flash Tutorial)

Academic Writing Resources

• Complete Discipline Listing of Style Resources from Anthropology to Sociology.
• The Everyday Writer - This rich website has information on documenting (citing) your sources, lots of sample essays and tips to correct common writing errors.
• Guide to Grammar and Writing - Use these resources to improve your writing skills and help with grammar problems.
• Research Papers - Citation and Reference Formats - Learn about "different citation and reference systems: APA, MLA, Chicago (Turabian), ASA, I-Search, and CBE.

Automated Citation Generators

• Automated Citation Creator - This site provides a way to plug in information about sources to get a citation in APA or MLA format. Please Use Caution: the results may not match the official format required by your instructor. Check with him or her first before using this site.
• KnightCite - Use the various forms in KnightCite to cite a book, journal/magazine or a TV/radio program.

The following books are available at the TMCC Library and can assist you in putting the story of your ancestors life into historical context.

If you were to read an article or a book about a particular family's history, what would it take to hold your interest? Would you like to know only the facts (birth, marriage and death), or would you like to know more about your ancestors' life? What was happening in your ancestors' life at the time they made certain decisions or moves? Why did they do the things they did? Seeking out and answering these types of questions will help you write a more engaging narrative, one that others will enjoy reading. The TMCC Library has a variety of books to help you accomplish this. 

The following books are available through the Washoe Public Library

What was the weather like where your ancestors lived in a particular place and time?