Modern Language Association Format: Best Format Ever Made

Mechanics, Format, & Documentation 1 st Edition (1980) 6 th Edition (2003)

The Basics Parenthetical documentation is used (Clark 210). Parenthetical documentation is used (Clark 210). The bibliography is called a Works Cited page. The bibliography is called a Works Cited page. There is no title page unless the teacher requests it. There is no title page unless the teacher requests it.

The Format of the Paper

Short Quotes vs. Long Quotes Short Quotes No more than four lines (prose) No more than four lines (prose) No more than three lines (poetry) No more than three lines (poetry) Long Quotes More than four lines (prose) More than four lines (prose) More than three lines (poetry) More than three lines (poetry)

Formatting Long Quotes Indent ten spaces (two tabs) from left margin. Indent ten spaces (two tabs) from left margin. Double space. Double space. Remove quotation marks. Remove quotation marks. Period goes before parenthetical citation. Period goes before parenthetical citation. Introduce with a complete sentence followed by a colon (:). Introduce with a complete sentence followed by a colon (:). Example Example

Abbreviations of Publishers’ Names

Works Cited Page

Preparing a List of Works Cited BOOK Author’s name. Title of Book. Publication information. Author’s name. Title of Book. Publication information. Fukuyama, Francis. Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution. New York: Farrer, Fukuyama, Francis. Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution. New York: Farrer, 2002.

Preparing a List of Works Cited Citing the editor of an anthology Citing the editor of an anthology – McMichael, George, ed. Anthology of American Literature. 9th ed. Vol. 1. New York: MacMillan, Citing a work in the anthology Citing a work in the anthology – Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Anthology of American Literature. Ed. George McMichael. 9th ed. Vol. 1. New York: MacMillan,

Preparing a List of Works Cited JOURNAL Author’s name. “Title of the article.” Publication information. Author’s name. “Title of the article.” Publication information. Trumpener, Katie. “Memories Carved in Granite: Great War Memorials and Everyday Life.” PMLA 115 (2000): Trumpener, Katie. “Memories Carved in Granite: Great War Memorials and Everyday Life.” PMLA 115 (2000):

Preparing a List of Works Cited LECTURE Railton, Stephen. “Christ Figures in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The University of Virginia. Charlottesville, VA. 11 June 2007.

The Mechanics of Writing Italicized Titles Books Books Plays Plays Long Poems Long Poems Pamphlets Pamphlets Periodicals Periodicals Movies & TV shows Movies & TV shows “Titles” in Quotation Marks Short stories Short stories Short poems Short poems Chapters Chapters Songs Songs TV episodes TV episodes Lectures Lectures Articles in newspapers, magazines, & encyclopedias Articles in newspapers, magazines, & encyclopedias

The Mechanics of Writing Ellipses Old format: sentence [...] sentence. Old format: sentence [...] sentence. 6 th edition format: sentence... sentence. 6 th edition format: sentence... sentence.

Citing Electronic Publications

General Information When citing an electronic source, try to keep your formatting as much like a print citation as possible. When citing an electronic source, try to keep your formatting as much like a print citation as possible. There are a few rules for citing electronic sources, but you may have to make judgment calls. There are a few rules for citing electronic sources, but you may have to make judgment calls. You will often have inadequate information; just use what you have. You will often have inadequate information; just use what you have. The goal is always clarity: use whatever means necessary (within reason) to make it possible for someone reading your work to find the source you cite. The goal is always clarity: use whatever means necessary (within reason) to make it possible for someone reading your work to find the source you cite.

Web Pages Author. “Title of Selection.” Title of Print Publication Author. “Title of Selection.” Title of Print Publication and volume.issue (date): pages. Title of Web Page. Editor. Date of publication or latest update. Sponsoring organization or institution. Date of access. Smith, John. “A Book Review.” I’m a Print Publication 8 (1992): Reviews of Philip Roth’s Work. Ed. Hieronymus Bosch The Philip Roth Society. 6 Oct Smith, John. “A Book Review.” I’m a Print Publication 8 (1992): Reviews of Philip Roth’s Work. Ed. Hieronymus Bosch The Philip Roth Society. 6 Oct

Some Other Examples A home page: A home page: Spears, Britney. Home Page. 19 July Aug A whole web page: A whole web page: Electronic Text Center. Ed. David Seaman Alderman Lib., U of Virginia. 19 June

E-Books Author or editor/translator (if no author). Title. Author or editor/translator (if no author). Title. Ed./Trans. name. City: Press, date of publication. Online Source. Ed. Date of access. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Henry Churchyard. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Henry Churchyard Jane Austen Information Page. 6 Sept Ovid. Metamorphoses. Trans. Arthur Golding. London, Ovid. Metamorphoses. Trans. Arthur Golding. London, The Perseus Digital Library. Ed. Gregory Crane. Apr Tufts U. 16 May 2002.

Online Periodicals A scholarly article: A scholarly article: Teeshirt, Random. “Do Be Do Be Do: Sinatra and Socrates.” The Journal of Clever Apparel 10 (2007): The Journal of Clever Apparel. 3 Aug A news story: A news story: “Spears Accused of Making Death Threats.” CNN.com The Associated Press.1 Aug

Almost Done… Some Rules: Some Rules: – For items that originally appeared in print, preserve the print entry as much as possible, omitting information not provided in the online version. – Try to conclude with the URL. – Pare down the URL to a workable size, and, if necessary, include a keyword.

A Subscription/Database Example “This Is an Amazing Workshop!: Thoughts from LU “This Is an Amazing Workshop!: Thoughts from LU Faculty.” The Secret Journal of Liberty Faculty 35 (2007): 1-2. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Liberty U, ILRC. 1 Aug Keyword: Faculty Orientation.

Personal Communications An An – Clark, Joseph. “Your paper is late!” to I. M. Slothful. 10 May – Slothful, I.M. to the author. 31 October 2009.