Style Guides

You professor may require you to use a particular style guide when you write a paper for a sociology course. A style guide explains how to cite your sources appropriately, how to organize your bibliography, and gives many examples. Learning how to write citations and reference lists can be time-consuming and frustrating--but a good style guide makes it easy!

The ASA Quick Style Guide is the most common one utilized in our department. You can find a link to the ASA Quick Style Guide below. Make sure that you check with your instructor to ensure that you are using the correct required style guide. If you need to look up a citation format and you can't find it in the online guide, or if your professor requires you to use a style guide other than the ASA Style Guide, ask the Reference Librarian at Rasmuson Library or your professor how to locate a printed copy of the appropriate style guide. If you are serious about sociology, you might want to purchase your own copy of the complete ASA Style Guide, available to student members for only $5.00. To order your copy, visit ASA's Online Bookstore.