When you write a research paper or report you need to include a bibliography or a list of the books, articles, or other publications that you used in your research. This lets your readers know that what you write is based on established research, that you didn't just make it up. And it helps any readers who want to retrace your steps or recreate your work.
Many guides are available to help students format citations for bibliographies and notes. These guides are called STYLE MANUALS. Use the style manual recommended by your professor.
Some Civil Engineering professors suggest that students use the ASCE style manual. See:
Other popular style manuals are APA, MLA, and Turabian. See our Citation Guide for more information.