MLA Documentation Modern Language Association

Paraphrasing Seventy-five per cent of the research material that you are using should be PARAPHRASED. Remember that paraphrasing means to put the ideas of the original in your own words. Although every single word of your material may be different from the original, if you got the IDEA or the ORGANIZING strategy from someone else, you need to acknowledge the borrowing by identifying the original author and source.

Validating your sources The first time you mention a source you should include information to let the reader know the CREDENTIALS of your source. In other words, what is the source’s affiliation which makes him or her worthy of being a source.

Attribution Verbs of attribution are not universally interchangeable, but there are multitudes of meanings: says, states, declares, avows, avers, believes, delineates, traces, announces, affirms, pronounces, proclaims, verbalizes, utters, relates, tells, narrates, recounts, relays, transmits, communicates, shares, demarcates, conveys, reports, links, expresses, voices, considers, supposes, thinks, deems, doubts, defines, outlines, describes, explains..

Example According to Stephen Harris and Gloria Platzner in their book, Classical Mythology: Images and Insights, creation stories can be found in many ancient cultures’ mythologies (64).

Parenthetical Citation Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). (Author’s Last Name Page Number). Appears directly after the quotation.

Parenthetical Citation Corresponds with an Entry in your Works Cited Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, Print.

(Author Page Number) Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

Parenthetical Citation refers to Entry in Works Cited Page Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford U.P., Print.

If No Author, Use Shortened Version of Title Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Lyrical Ballads 263). Lyrical Ballads in Romantic Literature. London: Oxford U.P., Print.

Basic Format: Works Cited Page Appears at the end of the essay on a page of its own. Contains a list of authors in alphabetic order (last name, first name). Indent all lines after the first. Double space. Center name Works Cited on top of page.

Books (Standard Format) Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Print. Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York: Penguin Books, Print.

Books with More than One Author Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. Boston: Allyn, Print.

More than Three Authors Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition. Logan, UT: Utah State UP, Print. Wysocki, Anne Frances, Johndan Johnson-Eilola, Cynthia L. Selfe, and Geoffrey Sirc. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition. Logan, UT: Utah State UP, Print.

Essay in an Edited Book Lastname, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Pages. Print. Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One. Ed. Ben Rafoth. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, Print.

Works Cited: Periodicals An Article in a Newspaper or Magazine Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Print. Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too- Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: Print.

Article in a Scholarly Journal Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): pages. Print. Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature 15.1 (1996): Print.

Common Features for Online Source Author and/or editor names Name of the database, or title of project, book, article Any version numbers available Date of version, revision, or posting Publisher information The word Web Date you accessed the material

Online Scholarly Article Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention." Emerging Infectious Diseases 6.6 (2000): Web. 8 May 2006.

Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Broadcast Television or Radio Program "The Blessing Way." The X-Files. Fox. WXIA, Atlanta. 19 Jul

Recorded Television Shows "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season. Writ. Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen. Dir. Kevin Bright. NBC. 10 Feb DVD. Warner Brothers, 2004.

Music Entire Albums Foo Fighters. In Your Honor. RCA, Waits, Tom. Blue Valentine Elektra/Wea, Individual Songs Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind. Geffen, 1991.

Movie Ed Wood. Dir. Tim Burton. Perf. Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette DVD. Touchstone, 2004.