Citation Style

[maeisenb]

While citations in a paper should obviously be consistent and conform to your chosen discipline's standards - whatever your subject might be - I was just curious about people's views on particular styles within a writing sample. Primarily, I'm asking because if you only have 25 pages you don't want to take up space with a 2-3 page works cited list/bibliography at the end. Thus, it would seem to be less helpful if you use something like Harvard citations than Chicago where the entire citation is listed out. After all, "Smith (2002b)" in a footnote could literally be anything.

If that's the case, I was going to convert stuff to Chicago, but before I do any thoughts from people who have read writing samples?

[iamincontrolhere-haig]

Even though the Chicago Manual of Style calls for a bibliography in addition to footnotes, I'm using Chicago style footnotes without a bibliography. That's the common practice in most of the academic journals (in my field) I've come across, so I assume my readers will be fine with it.

[Astarabadi]

I think it depends on what you are applying for. I am applying to History and Religion departments and I've asked those who are already in those fields (I recommend you do that). Footnotes are preferred for a research paper/writing sample, since it might seem that citing sources right into the text might be a filler (some citations are long).

A trick I've figured out is to make sure the footnotes, no matter how long, are in the smallest font size possible without being illegible. Also, I am attaching a hefty bibliography (which is included in the 25 pages) but it's compressed, small in font size, and single spaced. Double spacing only applies to your text. Don't forget a title page either.

[joejoe]

i agree with Caffeinated. It really depends on what are you applying for.

[IRToni]

So, I managed to send in both my writing samples without sources. For word count requirements, I usually keep one edition without sources around, so I can be sure how many words/characters I've actually used in writing. I realized my mistake the day after, asked if I could change it, I could not. I still got into Oxford, so I would not stress too much. Now, obviously, you don't want to do what I've done, but I don't think anyone really cares how you cite etc.