Topic Guide - Writing Resources

Watch these instructional videos to learn how to format your Chicago/Turabian class paper.

Classical, medieval, and early English literary works should usually be cited only in footnotes or, for frequently cited works, in parenthetical notes..." (Turabian 2018, 202).  It is typically not necessary to include this information in the bibliography.  Only include the ancient or sacred text in your bibliography if you are writing a paper in literary studies or if you are performing a close analysis of the texts or their translations.  In this case, treat the work as you would a translated and edited book.

Footnotes for ancient and sacred texts should generally include the following:

1. Author's name, Title of Work section number.
2. Homer, The Iliad lines 763-789.
3. Aristotle, Metaphysics 3.2.996b5-8; Plato, Rebuplic 360e-361b.

Cite the Bible by using the abbreviated book name, chapter number, and verse number in the footnote.

1. 1 Sam. 4:13.
2. Song of Sol. 8:5-7.

Since the version of the Bible you are referencing could change the book and numbering, include the version referenced in the first citation with the full name of the version or an accepted abbreviation (Turabian 2018, 204).

1. Amos 3:2 (Legacy Standard Bible).
2. Exod. 5:22-23 (NIV).

Turabian, Kate L. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. Edited by Wayne C Booth, Gregory G Colomb, Joseph M Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T FitzGerald. 9Th edition/ed. Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.