Intro
Create a Chicago Style Paper Template in Google Docs with ease. Learn 5 simple ways to format your academic paper, including setting margins, font, and citations. Master the Chicago citation style and turabian format with our step-by-step guide, ensuring accuracy and compliance for your research papers and essays.
Chicago style paper is one of the most widely used formatting styles in academic writing, particularly in the fields of history, philosophy, and social sciences. Creating a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, you can easily set up a template that meets the requirements of this style. In this article, we will show you five ways to create a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs.
Understanding Chicago Style
Before we dive into the steps to create a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs, it's essential to understand the basics of Chicago style. Chicago style is characterized by the use of footnotes or endnotes, a bibliography, and a specific formatting style for headings, margins, and font. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) provides detailed guidelines for formatting a paper in this style.
Method 1: Using the Built-in Chicago Style Template
Google Docs has a built-in template for Chicago style papers. To access this template, follow these steps:
- Go to Google Docs and click on the "Template" button in the top right corner.
- In the template gallery, search for "Chicago style" and select the template that appears.
- Click on the template to open it in Google Docs.
- Customize the template as needed to fit your specific requirements.
Limitations of the Built-in Template
While the built-in template is a good starting point, it may not meet all the requirements of a Chicago style paper. For example, the template may not include the correct formatting for footnotes or endnotes. Therefore, you may need to make some adjustments to the template to ensure it meets the Chicago style guidelines.
Method 2: Creating a Template from Scratch
If you prefer to create a template from scratch, you can follow these steps:
- Open a new document in Google Docs.
- Set the font to Times New Roman, 12-point size.
- Set the margins to 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
- Set the line spacing to double spacing.
- Create a title page with the title of your paper, your name, and the date.
- Create a header with your last name and the page number.
- Set up the footnote or endnote formatting according to the Chicago style guidelines.
Setting Up Footnotes or Endnotes
To set up footnotes or endnotes in Google Docs, follow these steps:
- Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Footnotes."
- In the footnote settings, select "Chicago" as the citation style.
- Choose whether you want to use footnotes or endnotes.
- Customize the footnote or endnote formatting as needed.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Template
There are many third-party templates available online that can help you create a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs. Some popular options include:
- The Chicago Style Template by Purdue OWL
- The Chicago Style Paper Template by Microsoft Office
- The Chicago Style Template by Google Docs
To use a third-party template, follow these steps:
- Go to the template website and download the template.
- Open the template in Google Docs.
- Customize the template as needed to fit your specific requirements.
Method 4: Creating a Template Using Google Docs Add-ons
Google Docs has a range of add-ons that can help you create a Chicago style paper template. Some popular add-ons include:
- EasyBib
- Zotero
- Cite This For Me
To use an add-on to create a template, follow these steps:
- Go to the Google Docs add-on store and search for "Chicago style."
- Select an add-on and click on the "Install" button.
- Follow the instructions to set up the add-on and create a template.
Using EasyBib to Create a Template
EasyBib is a popular add-on that can help you create a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs. To use EasyBib, follow these steps:
- Install the EasyBib add-on from the Google Docs add-on store.
- Open a new document in Google Docs.
- Click on the EasyBib button in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the "Chicago" citation style.
- Follow the instructions to set up the template and format your paper.
Method 5: Using a Template from a University Website
Many universities provide templates for Chicago style papers on their websites. To use a template from a university website, follow these steps:
- Search for "Chicago style paper template" along with the name of a university (e.g., "University of Chicago").
- Go to the university website and download the template.
- Open the template in Google Docs.
- Customize the template as needed to fit your specific requirements.
Using the University of Chicago Template
The University of Chicago provides a template for Chicago style papers on its website. To use this template, follow these steps:
- Go to the University of Chicago website and search for "Chicago style paper template."
- Download the template.
- Open the template in Google Docs.
- Customize the template as needed to fit your specific requirements.
Chicago Style Paper Template Gallery
Creating a Chicago style paper template in Google Docs can be a bit challenging, but with the right steps, you can easily set up a template that meets the requirements of this style. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can create a template that helps you format your paper correctly and efficiently. Whether you choose to use the built-in template, create a template from scratch, or use a third-party template, you can ensure that your paper meets the highest standards of academic writing.