Guest post by Lisa Stokes AG®
Do you find genealogy source citations confusing, time-consuming, or just plain frustrating? You’re not alone! Initially, most genealogists feel frustrated, confused, and unsure of how to properly cite sources. I struggled with crafting citations until I learned essential punctuation guidelines and discovered a simple two-part citation system.
The Importance of Citations in Genealogy Research
It’s easy to treat citations as an afterthought when you’re intensely focused on chasing a research lead. However, without clear, reliable citations, your conclusions will lack credibility. Citations are about accurately cataloging your research and creating a research trail others can follow.
My Journey to Simplified Citations
I initially learned to write proper source citations from Evidence Explained, where Elizabeth Shown Mills’ expertise was indispensable. I then explored Mastering Genealogical Documentation by Thomas W. Jones, whose clear writing deepened my understanding. Eventually, I acquired The Chicago Manual of Style as a reference guide to look up all my questions.
However, I still struggled with formatting due to the numerous choices and nuances that overwhelmed me. Everything changed when I read Paul K. Graham’s article, “Cite Anything: A Unified Approach to Crafting Citations,” in the Association Professional Genealogists Quarterly in September of 2020. His two-part citation structure provided the final piece of the puzzle, simplifying the process by allowing me to omit the access information in subsequent citations.
The “Genealogy Source Citations Simplified” Solution
Many genealogists feel overwhelmed by the various formats and styles, unsure of what to include, and worried about making mistakes that could affect the credibility of their work. However, source citations don’t need to be overwhelming. My eCourse, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified (GSCS), addresses the common challenges genealogists face, such as navigating various formats, knowing what citation elements to include, and learning key citation concepts. In the course, I break citation concepts into easy, step-by-step lessons, helping you feel confident with every citation you create. Take advantage of my Black Friday special below, and Join me to conquer citation anxiety!
Learn about Genealogy Source Citations Simplified
Unique Features of the Genealogy Source Citations Simplified eCourse
You might wonder, “Why take a course when I can find citation examples online, in books, or even ask AI to create a citation?” Here’s why Genealogy Source Citations Simplified is different and worth your time:
- Simplified Approach: Learn a simplified approach and gain confidence without getting bogged down. Learn a helpful color-coding system and a simplified master template.
- Step-by-Step Learning: Lessons build on each other, allowing you to progress at your own pace. Video tutorials walk you through key concepts in an engaging and easy-to-follow way.
- Learn Citation Punctuation & Principles: Gain confidence in your citation skills by learning to implement citation punctuation guidelines and key citation principles from the Humanities Style found in the Chicago Manual of Style. You’ll learn the how and why behind genealogy punctuation, improving your citation skills and enabling you to make smart citation decisions quickly and easily.
- GSCS Template Bank: Access my bank of templates that provide a solid starting point for creating clear and consistent source citations. All current and past students have continual access to my up-to-date template bank.
- One-Year Access: Enjoy one-year access to the course materials, with the flexibility to revisit whenever needed. Download syllabi, guides, and templates that you can use after your course access expires.
- Office Hours: Attend GSCS Office Hours, during which I answer student questions and cover student examples from various genealogy sources.
Here’s what one of my students says:
I had purchased and carefully studied Mastering Genealogical Documentation (Thomas W. Jones) as well as various editions of Evidence Explained (Elizabeth Shown Mills). My perfectionist nature still left me paralyzed in composing source citations. Often the problem was in finding a satisfactory ESM “QuickCheck Model” that perfectly matched a specific source. Thomas Jones provides excellent guidelines, but one is still on their own to build a final citation. As a result, I got a bit excited when first discovering source templates shared by the St. Louis Genealogical Society (StLGS). But I soon became disappointed as they didn’t seem to be complete enough.
Fairly soon thereafter, I learned about the “Genealogy Source Citations Simplified!” course by Lisa Stokes. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to attend most of the live class presentations, I was willing to pay for the course just to have access to her template bank, which appeared to be much more complete than that by StLGS. Fortunately, Lisa soon created her on-demand ecourse. This turned out to be of great benefit, as I could proceed on my own–as fast as I was able–and therefore do some homework assignments. Doing the homework and then getting feedback/critiques turned out to be one of the best aspects of the course, something I would have missed if I had simply purchased the templates. An important outcome was realizing that there’s more than one way to skin a citation, i.e., perfection lies not in the format but in the information conveyed. My experience led me to conclude: ‘Citation Templates without Tutoring will leave you Tormented still, like being in a boat without a rudder.’
Thank you, Lisa, for what you’ve created.” –Brian Ralph Smith, San Jose, CA
Is This Course Right for You?
My Genealogy Source Citations Simplified eCourse is not just for beginners—even experienced genealogists who want to streamline their citation process will benefit from the easy-to-understand lessons and practical tips. This course is ideal for any genealogist and family historian who wants to master a straightforward citation system, understand essential citation concepts, and master punctuation guidelines.
Enroll today at: Genealogy Source Citations Simplified
Learn More About Citations:
- To learn more about citations, check out my Genealogy Source Citations blog posts.
- Learn about my eCourse, Genealogy Source Citations Simplified. Use the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY25 for 25% off until November 30th.
- If you’d like to start your own template bank, download my Free Citation Template Starter Kit
- I also have a YouTube Channel where you can learn basic citation principles.
I hope you enjoy these resources in your quest for citation confidence!
Lisa Stokes, AG®
Genealogy Source Citations Simplified
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