Writing Resources

Writing Style Guide

The department expects all students in history courses to document their sources by using either footnotes or endnotes. These notes should conform to the standard format outlined in Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 6th ed., Chapter 7, and in Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th ed., Chapter 8. The form specified in Rampolla and in Turabian, and outlined briefly in the department's Writing Style Guide, is essentially that of The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., Chapter 14, available online through their website or our library website.

Download the Writing Style Guide (PDF)

Statement on Plagiarism

Additionally, all Davidson students are expected to know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it in your writing. Plagiarism means “representing another’s words or ideas as one’s own.” These words or ideas may be few or many—a phrase, a paragraph, or several pages—but the principle is the same. Learn to acknowledge and cite all sources properly, using quotation marks around (or, in the case of longer quotations, properly introducing and indenting) words not your own. Claiming ignorance or lack of intention is not an acceptable excuse. Plagiarism may result in a failing grade in a course.

Download the Statement on Plagiarism (PDF)