# How do I cite a source?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-cite-a-source/219167>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-cite-a-source/219167 "2003-12-15T19:28:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carlos619](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Carlos619](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlos619)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-cite-a-source/219167/1 "2003-12-15T19:28:25Z")

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Specifically a lecture. My prof. wants us to write a paper on hispanic culture and I want to quote her from the notes I took in her class. Thanks in advance:)

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**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-cite-a-source/219167/2 "2003-12-15T19:46:49Z")

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I would do it something like

Professor, Jane. Lecture notes (unpublished), Smarch 39, 2003.

This at least gets the point across. The exact date may not be necessary, but would probably be helpful if you have it.

If your professor tends to be anal about such things, though, I would recommend that you go to your local library and find the Chicago Manual of Style. Everything you would ever want to know about the proper form for writing (including how to write citations to all sorts of things.)

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**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-cite-a-source/219167/3 "2003-12-15T22:39:26Z")

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From: _A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations_, Sixth Edition, by Kate Turabian.

The bibliographic reference should be:

Doe, John. “Lecture Title” (lecture in \<Class Name\> on \<Date\>). University Name. University Location.

That, at least, is what I would include based on Turabian’s model. You can base your citation style in the work from that.