MLA Format

What is MLA? MLA (Modern Language Association) style formatting is often used in various Humanities disciplines There are two main manuals for MLA formatting. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. and MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd ed. The Handbook is used mostly by undergraduate and graduate students when writing papers for class. The Style Manual is used by professionals who are formatting documents in preparation for publication (like journal articles, books, book chapters, etc.). Many formatting elements are the same between the two books. This presentation will mostly focus on MLA formatting and style concerns that affect writing research papers. MLA style is often used in the following disciplines: Humanties, languages, Literature, Linguistics, Philosophy, Communication, Religion, and others. MLA format provides writers with a uniform format for document layout and documenting sources. Proper MLA style shows that writers are conscientious of the standards of writing in their respective disciplines. Properly documenting sources also ensures that an author is not plagiarizing.

Formatting the 1st Page No title page Double space everything In the upper left corner of the 1st page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and date Center the paper title (use standard caps but no underlining, italics, quote, or bold) Create a header in the upper right corner at half inch from the top and one inch from the right of the page (include your last name and page number) ･Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested ･In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. ･Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. ･Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking” ･Double space between the title and the first line of the text. ･Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.) 3

Sample 1st Page ･Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested ･In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. ･Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. ･Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking” ･Double space between the title and the first line of the text. ･Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.) 4

Plagiarism Remember that your paper MUST contain in- text citations. Papers without citations will result in a 0. This is what we call plagiarism. Any information must be cited unless it is common knowledge. ( Christmas is December 25th.)

Even if you paraphrase information, you MUST credit the source with an in-text citation. Yes, you do need in-text citations and a works cited page.

In-Text Citations: the Basics MLA uses parenthetical citations Parenthetical citations depend on the medium (e.g. Print, Web, DVD) Parenthetical citations also depend on the source’s entry on the Works Cited page Signal word in the text is the first thing in the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page Basic In-Text Citation Rules In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what is known as parenthetical citation. This method involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase. General Guidelines ･The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1.) upon the source medium (e.g. Print, Web, DVD) and (2.) upon the sourceﾕs entry on the Works Cited (bibliography) page. ･Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text, must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry in the Works Cited list. 7

Author-Page Style In-text Example: 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). Corresponding Works Cited Entry: Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. Oxford U.P., 1967. In-Text Citations: Author-Page Style MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. The both citations in the in-text examples on this slide, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the information in the corresponding Works Cited entry also shown on this slide. Reduce font size on slide to allow breathing room and space. Also, use a different font for the sample text so instructions look different from the excerpt. 8

Print Source with Author In-text Example: Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using animals" (3). Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). In-text Citations for Print Sources with Known Author For Print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation. These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry in the Works Cited (as noted in the corresponding Works Cited entry on this slide). See comments from previous slide. 9

Print Source with Author Corresponding Works Cited Entry: Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. U of California P, 1966. And this is how the Works Cited listing should look.

With Unknown Author In-text Example: We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has “more readily accessible climatic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change . . .” (“Impact of Global Warming” 6). In-text Citations for Print Sources with No Known Author When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (e.g. articles) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire websites) and provide a page number. In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title of the article appears in the parenthetical citation which corresponds to the full name of the article which appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. See comments from previous slide. 11

With Unknown Author Corresponding Works Cited Entry: “The Impact of Global Warming in North America.” GLOBAL WARMING: Early Signs. 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 2009. And this is how the Works Cited listing should look.

Website INCLUDE Author’s name Title of article or page Title of the website Name of the publisher Date the page or site was published The URL

Author’s last name, first name. “Title of. Article or Individual Page” Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article or Individual Page”. Title of the website, Name of the publisher, Date of publication, URL.

Works Cited entry White, Laura. “The Newest Fad in People Helping People: Little Free Pantries.” Upworthy, Cloud tiger Media, 3 August 2016, www.upworthy.com/the-newest- fad-in-people-helping-people (White 2).

Works Cited 1. Your works cited page is a list of all references that were used in your paper. 2. It should be on a separate sheet of paper. 3. Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.

4. Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries. 5. Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent. 6. Your works cited should be in alphabetical order.

Creating works cited using the 8th edition Core elements included: 1. Author 2. Title of source 3. Title of container 4. Other contribut0rs 5. Version 6. Number 7. Publisher 8. Publication date 9. Location

1. Author- Writer of the material 2. Title of source- Should follow author’s name 3. Title of container- Larger units where the source is located. (Book, television series, website, etc.) 4. Other contributors- Editors, translators, etc. 5. Version- Version or edition- King James Version

6. Number- If the source is a multiple- volume book or is part of a numbered sequence, a number must be included. 7. Publisher- Who? 8. Publication date- When? 9. Location- Book= page numbers Online source= URL 10. Other- Include dates of access,

Works Cited 1. Burke, Kenneth. Language as a Symbolic Action :Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. U of California P, 1966. 2. White, Laura. “The Newest Fad in People Helping People: Little Free Pantries.” Upworthy, Cloud tiger Media, 3 August 2016, www.upworthy.com/the-newest-fad-in-people- helping-people

Helpful Websites Easybib.com Citationmachine.net https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

1. The student is quoting from page 26 of the following source: Hawley, Richard A. Thinking about Drugs and Society: Responding to an Epidemic. New York: Walker, 1988. Print. a. Richard A. Hawley reports that although the ancient Chinese used marijuana for medical purposes, “there is no record of the Chinese using it as a pleasure producing drug” (26). b. Richard A. Hawley reports that although the ancient Chinese used marijuana for medical purposes, “there is no record of the Chinese using it as a pleasure producing drug.” (26)

a. Richard A. Hawley reports that although the ancient Chinese used marijuana for medical purposes, “there is no record of the Chinese using it as a pleasure producing drug” (26).

2. The student is summarizing information from page 63 of the following source: Henningfield, Jack E., and Nancy Almand Ator. Barbiturates: Sleeping Potion or Intoxicant? New York: Chelsea, 1986. Print. a. Drugs classified as Schedule I by the Drug Enforcement Administration are illegal, even for medical purposes, but they are allowed in authorized experiments (Henningfield 63). b. Drugs classified as Schedule I by the Drug Enforcement Administration are illegal, even for medical purposes, but they are allowed in authorized experiments (Henningfield and Ator 63).

b. Drugs classified as Schedule I by the Drug Enforcement Administration are illegal, even for medical purposes, but they are allowed in authorized experiments (Henningfield and Ator 63).

3. The student is citing a statistic that appeared in the following unsigned article: “Cross-Eyed and Painless.” Economist 6 July 1991: 89. Print. a. Nearly half of 1,035 oncologists surveyed in 1991 said that if smokable marijuana were legal for cancer patients, they would prescribe it (Economist 89). b. Nearly half of 1,035 oncologists surveyed in 1991 said that if smokable marijuana were legal for cancer patients, they would prescribe it (“Cross-Eyed” 89).

b. Nearly half of 1,035 oncologists surveyed in 1991 said that if smokable marijuana were legal for cancer patients, they would prescribe it (“Cross-Eyed” 89).

4. The student is quoting from page 79 of the following source: Marshall, Eliot. Legalization: A Debate. New York: Chelsea, 1988. Print. There are two works by Marshall in the list of works cited. a. Marshall explains that marijuana can be dangerous for people with heart conditions because its use “can dramatically increase heart rate and blood pressure” (Legalization 79). b. Marshall explains that marijuana can be dangerous for people with heart conditions because its use “can dramatically increase heart rate and blood pressure” (79).

a. Marshall explains that marijuana can be dangerous for people with heart conditions because its use “can dramatically increase heart rate and blood pressure” (Legalization 79).

5. The student is quoting from page 67 of the following source: Marshall, Eliot. Legalization: A Debate. New York: Chelsea, 1988. Print. There are two works by Marshall in the list of works cited. a. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed marijuana to be used in experiments with patients suffering from glaucoma. According to one expert, “Several studies since 1971 have shown that smoking marijuana causes the pressure within the eye to decrease and to remain at a lowered level for about five hours” (Legalization 67). b. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed marijuana to be used in experiments with patients suffering from glaucoma. According to one expert, “Several studies since 1971 have shown that smoking marijuana causes the pressure within the eye to decrease and to remain at a lowered level for about five hours” (Marshall, Legalization 67).

b. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed marijuana to be used in experiments with patients suffering from glaucoma. According to one expert, “Several studies since 1971 have shown that smoking marijuana causes the pressure within the eye to decrease and to remain at a lowered level for about five hours” (Marshall, Legalization 67).