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Chicago Style Guide

This guide is designed to help students navigate the requirements of Chicago Style citations.

Chicago Overview

Chicago Style is one citation style used to format and cite sources in academic work. This guide will introduce you to the basics of Chicago Style. If you have a question about anything covered in this guide, please contact a CSCC librarian. If you have a question about Chicago Style that is not covered in this guide, please consult The Chicago Manual of Style, The Chicago Manual of Style website, or your instructor. 

One important note is that there are two different variations of Chicago: Notes and Bibliography (commonly noted as NB) and Author-Date (commonly noted as AD). Please be sure to ask your instructor which variation they prefer to see in your work.

Four Reasons to Cite Your Sources

1. Giving credit where it is due is the right thing to do. 

2. Citing sources strengthens your position by showing you have consulted the experts.

3. Citations help interested readers find more information about your topic. 

4. Effective use of citations will help you avoid plagiarism. 

For more information on why we cite, please watch the video below. 

explanation of citation

Source: Oviatt Library

"Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due. Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship" (APA, 2020, p. 254).


Plagiarism at CSCC
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.  Students involved in academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class.  In addition to other disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an “F” or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an “F” in the course. Cleveland State Policy 2:06:00:00

Plagiarism: How To Avoid It