Why cite sources?
Why do we use footnotes and bibliographies in papers? That's a question many students have asked for a long time! Aside from the "your professors require it" kind of answer, there are actually good reasons for doing so.
Many students will find that using a citation tool will help them as they work through papers for individual courses and much more so as they work on their final project.
The list below is by no means exhaustive, and new tools appear from time to time.
The main point is to find a tool that will work best with how you do your research and writing. If you don't like a tool, you won't use it. Your best bet may be to try some of the free tools first, and then if those don't appeal to you, perhaps you will invest in one of the other tools.
Keep in mind you want a tool that will allow you to export citations in Turabian format (see Formatting tab).
None of these tools are perfect! After you import citations into your paper, you still need to check them for completeness and accuracy (no blaming the program!).
The SBL Handbook of Style (2nd edition) is commonly used in Biblical studies courses as the format for citing resources. There is no online version of the tool, so you will need to purchase a copy or use a copy in your library. A summary of changes in the 2nd edition can be found here. You may also find the Student Supplement for The SBL Handbook of Style to be helpful.
Some citation management software tools do not incorporate SBL style. In such cases, Turabian/Chicago may be the closest proximate style but will still require editing to bring your notes and bibliography in line with SBL style.
Go here for guidance on adding SBL 2nd edition to Zotero style guides,
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Disserations, 9th ed., by Kate L. Turabian, et. al.
This work, typically referred to simply as 'Turabian' because of the original editor, is a very common style guide in seminary courses. It is actually a brief version of the Chicago Manual of Style, and thus if you need more in depth help you should refer to the Chicago Manual. In addition, the first section of Turabian incorporates much material from the book, The Craft of Research (ed. by Wayne Booth et. al.); so in essence you get two very helpful resources in one.
You can view a Turabian quick guide, but DO NOT RELY NOT THAT PAGE ALONE! You still need the actual book as a resource (print or e-book).
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition) is often the style guide of choice for counseling courses (check with your professor to be certain).
