Create a fact sheet with citations

A fact sheet is a concise, organized document that presents key information about a topic. Unlike an essay, it uses headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points so a reader can find facts quickly. The most important rule when writing a fact sheet is that every fact must be cited — you must show where the information came from. Without a citation, a fact is just a claim.

What is a citation?

A citation is a way of acknowledging the source of information you use in your writing. There are two types you need to know: an in-text citation appears right after the fact (e.g. "(Smith, 2023)"), while a bibliography entry at the end of the document gives the full source details. Both are needed.

The five parts of a citation

• Author — the person or organization who wrote the source (e.g. Smith, J.).
• Title of the article or book — what the piece is called (e.g. How Solar Energy Works).
• Publisher or website — where it was published (e.g. National Geographic).
• Year published — when the source was produced (e.g. 2023).
• URL — the web address for online sources (e.g. www.nationalgeographic.com/solar).

In-text citations vs bibliography entries

• In-text citation: a short reference inside the text, right after the fact — (Smith, 2023).
• Bibliography entry: the full reference listed at the end — Smith, J. (2023). How Solar Energy Works. National Geographic.
• Both point the reader to the same source; one is brief, one is complete.
• If no author is named, use the organization name or the title of the article instead.