What is MLA and why do we use it? MLA FORMAT What is MLA and why do we use it?

MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION What is MLA? MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION MLA Style creates a “standard” of writing: Formatting and page layout Stylistic technicalities (ex: abbreviations, footnotes, quotations) Citing sources Preparing a manuscript for publication in certain disciplines

Why Use MLA? Provide your readers with cues to follow your ideas Let your reader focus on your ideas and writing without getting distracted Establish your credibility

The Basics Use size 12 font (generally Times New Roman – or something else similarly boring) Double space the text of your paper Set the margins to 1inch Indent the first line of your paragraphs using the “tab” key Create a header that numbers all of your pages The very last page is always your “Works Cited”. This is not a bibliography.

Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources Author name (if there is one. There may not be) Name of the actual website. Name of the institution/organization/publi sher that is associated or created the site Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources 4. The date the resource was created (if you can find it) 5. Medium of publication 6. Date you accessed/used/found/loo ked at the material

MLA Website Citation Format (This goes in your “Works Cited”) Author/editor’s last name, first name. Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/ organization affiliated with the site, date of resource creation. Medium of publication. Date of access.

In-Text Citation [Books] MLA follows an author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author’s LAST NAME and the PAGE NUMBER(s) from where you got the quote or paraphrase MUST appear IN your writing, and a COMPLETE reference must also appear on your WORKS CITED PAGE.

In-Text Citation [Website] Include the first item of information that you can find. Most of the time, you won’t find an author, so you will just include the website. You do not need to give paragraph numbers or page numbers from a website According to History.com, Lincoln was a “self-taught Illinois lawyer…with a reputation as an eloquent opponent of slavery.”

EasyBib.com Save time by making citing sources automatically! But make sure you check your work!

WORKS CITED – Basic Rules Begin Works Cited page on separate page at the end of the paper Label the page Works Cited and center it Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations 0.5”