To quote a lecture in Chicago style, you primarily use the Notes-Bibliography system, providing a full citation in a footnote or endnote the first time you reference it, and a complete entry in your bibliography.
Understanding Chicago Style for Lectures
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) provides comprehensive guidelines for citing various source types. When citing a lecture, the objective is to give your reader enough information to understand its context and, if possible, locate the original source. For lectures, this typically includes details such as the speaker, lecture title, institution, location, and date.
In-Text Citations (Footnotes/Endnotes)
When you directly quote or paraphrase content from a lecture within your written work, you will typically insert a superscript number that corresponds to a footnote at the bottom of the page or an endnote at the end of your paper.
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First Reference:
The first time you cite a lecture, the footnote or endnote should include comprehensive details. The format is similar to the bibliography entry but with slightly different punctuation and the author's first name appearing first.- Format: Speaker's First Name Last Name, “Lecture Title” (lecture, Institution, City, State, Date of lecture).
- Example: Roland Kelleher, “How to Hook Any Audience” (lecture, Elizabeth College, Burlington, VT, January 3, 2022).
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Subsequent References:
For any subsequent citations of the same lecture, you can use a shortened form. This usually includes only the speaker's last name and a shortened title, or "ibid." if it directly follows the previous citation to the same source.- Format: Speaker's Last Name, Shortened Title (if applicable), page number (if available).
- Example: Kelleher, “How to Hook.” (Page numbers are typically not available for unrecorded lectures, but would be included if referencing a transcript.)
Bibliography Entry
The bibliography entry provides the full details of the lecture and is included in an alphabetized list at the end of your paper. This list serves as a comprehensive record of all the sources you consulted.
- Format: Speaker's Last Name, Speaker's First Name. “Lecture Title” (lecture, Institution, City, State, Date of lecture).
- Example: Kelleher, Roland. “How to Hook Any Audience” (lecture, Elizabeth College, Burlington, VT, January 3, 2022).
Integrating Lecture Content into Your Writing
When incorporating information from a lecture, whether through direct quotation or paraphrasing, it's essential to integrate it smoothly into your text while adhering to academic citation standards.
Direct Quotations
For exact phrases or sentences from the lecture:
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Enclose the quoted text in double quotation marks.
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Place the corresponding footnote or endnote number immediately after the quoted text.
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For longer quotes (typically three or more lines), format them as a block quote. This means indenting the entire quote from the left margin, without using quotation marks.
- Example: As Roland Kelleher emphasized, “capturing the audience's attention in the first thirty seconds is paramount to a successful presentation.”¹
¹ Roland Kelleher, “How to Hook Any Audience” (lecture, Elizabeth College, Burlington, VT, January 3, 2022).
- Example: As Roland Kelleher emphasized, “capturing the audience's attention in the first thirty seconds is paramount to a successful presentation.”¹
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
When you restate the lecturer's ideas in your own words or summarize a portion of the lecture:
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Do not use quotation marks.
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Always include a footnote or endnote at the end of the sentence or paragraph where you've incorporated the information. This acknowledges the original source of the ideas, even if not directly quoted.
- Example: Kelleher suggested that engaging an audience early on is crucial for retaining their interest throughout a speech.²
² Roland Kelleher, “How to Hook Any Audience” (lecture, Elizabeth College, Burlington, VT, January 3, 2022).
- Example: Kelleher suggested that engaging an audience early on is crucial for retaining their interest throughout a speech.²
Key Components for Citing a Lecture
Here's a quick reference table outlining the essential information needed for citing a lecture in Chicago style:
| Component | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker | The full name of the individual who delivered the lecture. | Kelleher, Roland |
| Lecture Title | The official title of the lecture, if available. | “How to Hook Any Audience” |
| Type of Event | Clearly specify that the source is a "lecture." | (lecture, |
| Institution | The organization or institution that hosted the lecture. | Elizabeth College, |
| Location | The city and state where the lecture took place. | Burlington, VT, |
| Date | The complete date the lecture was delivered. | January 3, 2022) |
For more detailed guidance on Chicago style, you can consult authoritative resources such as The Chicago Manual of Style Online or reputable university writing labs.
