The format of your dissertation references is an important part of your writing and should not be overlooked when you are completing your work. Make a list of your references as you utilize them and be sure to add citations when you’re done. The person marking your dissertation should be able to easily reference your work with the details you have provided.
Remember though that there are slight differences to citing your references depending on what format your paper is written in. Here are guidelines for the three most popular formats, namely Chicago, APA, and MLA.
For your Chicago formatted dissertation, use the following as a guideline when citing a reference: Start off by giving the name of the author (last name first followed by the full names after a comma) and the year of the published resource. Follow up with the title of the publication in italic font. Then state the level of your dissertation (for example, PhD), your school’s name, and finally the publisher name and publication number—in brackets—if one is available.
Example: Compton, Kathy Louise. 2010. No More Space for you and me. PhD dissertation, Danville College. Sierra Publishers. (Publication No. CKL 3211769.)
The format for your APA paper should begin with the surname and initials of the resource’s author. After that you should add the title in italics, followed by the words, “(Doctoral dissertation)” in brackets. The name of the publisher will follow after the words “Retrieved from...” and you will finish off with the publication number in brackets at the end.
Example: Manson, B. A. (2007). There’s no Point in Trying if Your Heart’s not in it. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Grizzly Publishers. (Publications No. BFD 3771484)
For the modern language association format, start with the author’s last name, a comma, and the first names after. Write the full name of the resource in italic font and follow with the word “Dissertation” with a capital “D”. Continue with the name of your school and then add the publisher’s name and the publication number in brackets if applicable.
Example: Williams, Daniel Keith. Whatever Happened to the Simple Way of Life? Dissertation, New York College. Labour Day Publishers, 2011. (Publication No. WDK 7211178.)
Remember to always check with your professor to make sure that there aren’t any special citing requirements demanded by your school, and the norm (as shown above) is accepted.