Unraveling the Mysteries of MLA Presented by: Mandy Davis Created by: Mandy Davis & Amy Beaudoin

What is MLA? MLA stands for Modern Language Association. MLA style is standardized system of documentation for academic papers in the humanities. MLA style provides a consistent way for readers to look up/duplicate research cited in a paper. The Modern Language Association oversees and publishes the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. The latest updated edition is the 6 th edition (silver book).

Parts of MLA Style For a paper to be correct MLA style, it must follow MLA guidelines for the following: 1. FORMAT 2. IN-TEXT CITATIONS (parenthetical citations) 3. WORKS CITED PAGE

1. MLA Format Overview 12-point font size Times New Roman is an acceptable style of font (nothing “funky”) Double-spaced Black ink 1-inch margins all around (top, bottom, right, and left) See handout for details

2. In-text (Parenthetical) Citations Overview Replace footnotes (yay!) Act as a “flag” or “marker” to help reader find full citation information on Works Cited page Placed in parentheses, usually after direct quotes or paraphrased or summarized segments of information Information inside parentheses depends upon type of source used

What’s Inside the Parentheses? Usually author’s last name and page number (no first name, and no comma between last name and page number) Example: (Smith 32). Or (Smith 32)? Note that punctuation comes after parentheses, not before (and certainly not both!) If a quote is four or more lines, it must be block quoted and the punctuation changes!!

Types of In-Text Citations NOVEL or ESSAY—Use author’s last name and page number. If no author is given, use title and page number. (Faulkner 234). (“Short Story” 13). (Novel 35). (“Article Title” 2).

Types of In-Text Citations (cont.) POETRY-- When citing lines from a work of poetry, use line numbers. If more than one line of poetry is quoted, use a hyphen between line number range in in-text citation. (4-6). (13). If using more than one work by the same author, use poem’s title and line numbers for clarity.

Types of In-Text Citations (cont.)  ELECTRONIC SOURCES-- 1. Follow the same rules for an essay or novel. 2. Use author’s last name and page number, or title and page number if no author is given. 3. If there are no real page numbers, use author or title only. 4. A web URL (address) should NEVER be put in an in-text citation.

Types of In-Text Citations (cont.) CORRECT electronic/internet source citations: (Smith 32). (“Article Title” 4). (Smith). (“Article Title”). INCORRECT electronic/internet source citation: ( (

Types of In-Text Citations (cont.) THE BIBLE—Using the Bible as a source requires a unique in-text citation. Use the underlined title of the Bible (because there are many versions/translations of the Bible) followed by a comma, the abbreviated chapter, book number, a period, then verse numbers. (The Living Bible, Gen ).

3. Works Cited Page Alphabetically organized by author’s last name or title (if no author is given for a source) Every source listed on the Works Cited page MUST have been used and cited (with in-text citations) within the body of the paper. For each source entry, all lines AFTER the first are indented. (This can be accomplished by using Tab on the keyboard or using the hanging indent feature on the margin ruler)

Sample Works Cited Entries Electronic Database Source (EBSCO) Smith, David. “Cooling Trend in Arctic.” Futurist May- June 2002: 15. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Somerset Community College Lib. 22 May See your handout for specific examples.

Sample Works Cited Entries Electronic Database Source (Galenet) * This database contains literary criticism. Rubin, Alice. “In Country.” New England Review and Bread Loaf Quarterly. 8.2 (1986): Expt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Gale Group. Somerset Community College Lib. 22 June 2000.

Sample Works Cited Entries Electronic Database Source (Opposing Viewpoint) * This database is very useful for ENG 101 (Argument Writing) Barr, Bob. “Government Should Not Recognize Same-Sex Marriage.” Marriage Divorce. Eds. Tamara Roleff and Mary E. Williams. Current Controversies Series. Farmington Hills, MI: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale Group. Somerset Community College Lib. 25 Mar 2004.

Sample Works Cited Entries Page/Article from Website *When using one page from a site, don’t just cite entire web site. “City Profile: San Francisco.” CNN.com Cable News Network. 14 May 2002 < TRAVEL/atevo/city/SanFrancisco/intro.html>.

Sample Works Cited Entries  Information from Online Government Websites United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Law Enforcement and Juvenile Crime. By Howard N. Snyder. Dec June 2002 < l.pdf>.

Where do I find citation information? FOR PRINT SOURCES : Books—Title page (front and back). See example. Magazines/Periodicals—Table of Contents and/or Front Cover *Make a copy of (or write down) this information at the time of research so you have it when you need it!

Where do I find citation information? FOR ELECTRONIC SOURCES : Online Databases (EBSCO, etc.)— When you click to print a source from an online database, you can also print out citation and abstract information. The following slide shows a screenshot of the print dialogue from EBSCO. Usually a database will place citation information somewhere on the source printout or let you choose to have citation information printed.

Where do I find citation information? FOR WEBSITES OR WEB PAGES : Look around carefully, especially on first (index) page of a website—or the last page. Sometimes you can find an author, webmaster, and/or last updated information. Some websites will not have any information; however, if it is a corporate, government or academic website there usually is the date of the last update and a corporate or regular author listed.

Preparing to Write an MLA-Style Documented Paper 1. Understand the assignment and develop a working thesis/focus 2. Find sources (leave plenty of time to go to library and/or do internet research 3. Do your research (read and take notes) See handout for detailed steps.