MLA citing information from books

Why do you need to cite information? When you are writing a paper that includes information from a source, you must give credit to the person who wrote it.

There is 3 ways to cite information Quoting: Writing a direct line from a text Paraphrasing: Writing information from a text in your own words Summarizing: Writing a summary on an entire text in your own words

NO matter which way you cite your information, you must give credit to the author who originally wrote it Quoting: the use of direct words that is identical to the original, therefore matching the source document word for word. “quotation marks” (author’s last name, page number). “Each of us is born with a history already in place. There are physical aspects that make us brown-eyed or blue-eyed, that make us tall or not so tall, or give us curly or straight hair” (Myers, 1). According to Myers, “Each of us is born with a history already in place” (1). Paraphrasing: the use of a passage from the source document into your own words, therefore it usually is shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly. Paraphrase (page number). Everyone is unique in their own way, whether it’s how we look or how we act, we are each born with a history all ready in line for us (Myers,1). Summarizing: the use of putting the main idea(s) into your own words, which includes only the main point(s). Like a paraphrase it will be significantly shorter than the original document; takes a broader overview. Walter Dean Myers faced many obstacles his life, but racial discrimination in the biggest obstacle he faced. After reading the book Bad Boy, I was able to see how he struggled growing up. Even though he made some bad decisions, he never let himself see his skin color, nor did that stop him from following his dream to become a writer.

What is a Works Cited page? Now that you have finished reading a book and are staring on writing a book research essay, there is a few things to keep in mind after you have used citations in your work. YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT TO THE AUTHOR!!! In order to do so, a works cited must be completed. This shows that the information you used in your essay, that was not your own person words, is credited back to the person who wrote it.

What do I include? The Authors name- First and Last- but we put the last name first and the first name last or second… I know confusing right?! This is how it should look. Last name, First name. (include the comma and period) Young, Crystal.

Then the title of the book Include the title of the book that is italicized and capitalized the same way as the cover. Welcome to Language Arts. (include period) So far we have: Young, Crystal. Welcome to Language Arts.

Next the place of publication This is the usually the city of publication, but may sometimes be the country. This can be found on the first few pages of the book. City: (include colon) Nampa: Young, Crystal. Welcome to Language Arts. Nampa:

Next the publisher This can be found on the first few pages of the book. It will read Published by and then the name of the publisher. Publisher, (include comma) Teacher’s Literature, Young, Crystal. Welcome to Language Arts. Nampa: Teacher’s Literature,

THEN ADD THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION. Year. (include period) 2012. Young, Crystal. Welcome to Language Arts. Nampa: Teacher’s Literature, 2012.

Finally add the medium of publication Medium of publication. (include period) Print. (since it is printed in a book) Young, Crystal. Welcome to Language Arts. Nampa: Teacher’s Literature, 2012. Print.

Okay so now lets do some together Author’s Last name, first name. Title of the book. Location: Publisher, year. Here is the book information, now you can put it all together. James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl Canada 1961 Alfred A. Knopf Incorporation Dahl, Ronald. James and the Giant Peach. Canada: Alfred A. Knopf Incorporation, 1961. Print.

And there you go… time to start writing and citing!!! https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/