The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is a widely used style guide for citing and formatting research papers, articles, and other written works. In this essay, we will focus on how to cite a documentary using the Chicago style.
When citing a documentary, the first thing to consider is whether you are citing a film or a television program. The CMS provides specific guidelines for citing each type of documentary.
To cite a film, you will need to include the following information:
- Title of the film
- Director's name
- Production company
- Year of release
For example:
"The Thin Blue Line. Directed by Errol Morris, produced by Pennebaker Hegedus Films, 1988."
To cite a television program, you will need to include the following information:
- Title of the program
- Episode title (if applicable)
- Director's name
- Production company
- Year of release
- Network or channel on which the program was aired
- Date of airing
For example:
"Frontline. 'The Choice 2020.' Directed by Michael Kirk, produced by Kirk Documentary Group and WGBH Boston, 2020. PBS, October 27, 2020."
It is important to note that the CMS recommends using the title of the film or television program in italics. In addition, the director's name should be listed before the production company, and the year of release should be listed after the production company.
When citing a documentary in the text of your paper, you should include the director's last name and the year of release in parentheses, like this: (Morris 1988). If you are citing a television program, you should also include the episode title in quotation marks, like this: (Kirk "The Choice 2020" 2020).
Finally, it is important to include a full citation for the documentary in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your paper. The format for the bibliography entry will depend on the type of documentary you are citing, as described above.
In conclusion, citing a documentary using the Chicago style requires you to provide specific information about the film or television program, including the title, director, production company, year of release, and, for television programs, the episode title, network, and date of airing. By following these guidelines, you can properly credit the sources you have used in your research and ensure that your work is accurately and properly documented.