[Jim Paradise]

I'm in the midst of a rather thorough history essay at the moment, but per page I have the same sources used on multiple occasions. Now, I'm acquainted with MLA style as any university student is, but I'm bit stuck on how to go about this multiple footnote business. Previous essays for philosophy classes I've been able to use a style as such:


"1 Book, pg. 50
2,3 Book, pgs. 34, 50"

And then of course the bibliography would be at the end of the essay. I haven't encountered a problem with that yet, but sometimes philosophy professors just aren't as picky as history professors.

However, in this essay due to the bloody amount of historical facts, I've got a severe amount of references. What I'm wondering is would it be appropriate to use that style such as:

"1, 3, 4, 9 Book A pgs. 10, 20, 21, 50
2, 5, 8 Book B pgs., 46, 34, 53
7, 10 Book C pgs. 103, 239"

?

Or should I just go the route of (and fill my pages with footnotes):

"1 Book A date of book, etc., pg. 10
2 Book B date of book, etc., pg. 46
3 [Book A[/i] date of book, etc., pg. 20
4 ibid
5 Book B date of book, etc., pg. 34"

and so and so forth.

I'd rather not have a page full of footnotes and I feel adding "(Author, pg. #)" is distracting from the flow of the text.

So the question is whether or not I can use that first format with my bibliography and have my text appropriately documented?

(And yes, I realize if I go the second format that the author has to be included, etc.)

[Xeo]

Instead of footnoting each source, in MLA, you put (Author #), where # is the page number. Footnotes aren't used the way you are trying to use them. If you have more than one work to cite per author, then you can use the name of the article or book instead of the author. There are a ton of different rules to this, so I recommend you look them up.

Oh, and instead of footnotes, you could use endnotes. Then it won't fill up your pages.

Edit 2: When I have questions, I look it up in a booklet I have written by Diana Hacker. Your questions are answered there, and if you want to use footnotes, switch to Chicago style (proper for a History paper, anyway).

[Jim Paradise]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Instead of footnoting each source, in MLA, you put (Author #), where # is the page number. Footnotes aren't used the way you are trying to use them. If you have more than one work to cite per author, then you can use the name of the article or book instead of the author. There are a ton of different rules to this, so I recommend you look them up.

Oh, and instead of footnotes, you could use endnotes. Then it won't fill up your pages.

Edit 2: When I have questions, I look it up in a booklet I have written by Diana Hacker. Your questions are answered there, and if you want to use footnotes, switch to Chicago style (proper for a History paper, anyway).

Thanks for your suggestions. I have been looking it up and still have been a bit confused on it (which is bothering me). I'll check into the link you've provided!

*edited* That link is perfect. I couldn't thank you enough! While I'll end up with more Notes at the end than I'd like, at least I won't have footnotes cluttering up my page unnecessarily.

[Xeo]

Glad to be of help. My school either recommended the Hacker book, or gave it to us, but either way it's been my writing bible since I started as a freshman.

[Jim Paradise]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Glad to be of help. My school either recommended the Hacker book, or gave it to us, but either way it's been my writing bible since I started as a freshman.

I put off buying "the little brown book" which is a book on essay writing, style, etc., written by two professors at the University of Waterloo. Sadly the bookstore was closed when I went to buy it this weekend. Since I have two history essays due, the link you provided will be invaluable for the next 48 hours.