Research 101 Just the Basics!

Research: MLA Style, Works Cited Page, In-Text Citations Yikes!! Hang in there – you can do it!

There are specific rules to follow when using MLA style MLA Style (Modern Language Association) is a way to write research papers. There are specific rules to follow when using MLA style

MLA Rule 1: When you use MLA style to write your Research Paper, The Works Cited Page is the LAST page

It’s a list of all of the information sources used in your research What is “Works Cited”? It’s a list of all of the information sources used in your research

A Works Cited Page: 1. Gives credit to people who wrote the original info used in your paper

And. 2. It helps prevent plagiarism – which is stealing!

REALLY!!!!!

In other words, “Works Cited” helps keep you out of hot water!!

AND….helps your grade --- A LOT!

When you make the Works Cited page….. You MUST follow more MLA rules

3 more MLA Rules 2. The last page is Always called “Works Cited” 4. Your last name + page number go here and on every page of your paper 3. The words Works Cited are placed in the middle of the page

MLA Rule 5: Works Cited pages are Arranged Alphabetically – usually by Authors’ last name

Every Red Box indicates 1 book, Web site, database article, etc. on the Works Cited page

Each is called a citation – and this Works Cited page has 4 citations

MLA Rule 6: Every line of each citation is indented EXCEPT for the first line

It’s called a “hanging indentation” because the first line hangs over the others

MLA rule 7: If there is no author, the citation begins with the title – like this example

MLA Rule 7a : Even when there is only a title, it is still put in alphabetical order

You guessed it – MLA Rules that guide its formation! Each citation has….. You guessed it – MLA Rules that guide its formation!

You can either follow the MLA rules and make your own citations, OR

You can use an Online Citation Maker. But, make sure that citation maker does a good job!!!!

Some citation makers aren’t reliable - but there are others that deliver good results

We Like and Recommend This One http://secondary. oslis

You have to follow some more rules to prevent plagiarism… You DO want to stay out of trouble, right? You have to follow some more rules to prevent plagiarism…

Every Citation on your Works Cited page is Connected to a part of YOUR Research Paper

Really?! HOW?

As you know, Your Paper is based upon the information you have researched…..

That information can (and should) be quoted, paraphrased, summarized, and reflected upon in your paper

You might want to use a Direct Quote from your research - For Example…. You might want to use a Direct Quote from your research - Like this Example

MLA Rule 8a: “ ” Use Quotation Marks around quoted words Farmers who “preferred trade, transportation, or ‘tinkering’” to the tasks of tending to crops and animals found great opportunities in the city” MLA Rule 8a: “ ” Use Quotation Marks around quoted words

Or……you might decide to paraphrase that information, like this Example…

People who weren’t interested in farming found favorable alternatives in urban areas. MLA Rule 8b: Don’t Use Quotation Marks when you paraphrase. You are using your words but the author’s ideas!

Direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries are another person’s ideas.

You MUST give them credit! Even if you CHANGE their words!!

But HOW?

If Quoting, Do This…..

Farmers who “preferred trade, transportation, or ‘tinkering’” to the tasks of tending to crops and animals found great opportunities in the city” (Danhof). MLA Rule 9a: To give credit, put the first word of the Works Cited Citation in parentheses at the end of the quote.

The first word of this citation is “Danhof” In other words – this is the citation for this quote in your Works Cited… The first word of this citation is “Danhof”

Farmers who “preferred trade, transportation, or ‘tinkering’” to the tasks of tending to crops and animals found great opportunities in the city” (Danhof). So Danhof goes here. Give Danhof Credit!!

If Paraphrased…. People who weren’t interested in farming found favorable alternatives in urban areas (Danhof). MLA Rule 9b: Give Credit here, too! Remember, it is your words, but someone else’s idea.

If the information came from a print source, include the page number of the information…… It looks like this…

Farmers who “preferred trade, transportation, or ‘tinkering’” to the tasks of tending to crops and animals found great opportunities in the city” (Danhof 7). Period at the END!!

If Paraphrased…. People who weren’t interested in farming found favorable alternatives in urban areas (Danhof 7).

(Danhof 7) Let’s Review….. – This is an example of an in-text citation from a print resource with an author – and page number

print resource without an author Notice the page number, too!! Let’s Take Another….. (Blueprint 22) – an example of a print resource without an author Notice the page number, too!!

(Blueprint) And Another….. – an example that could come from the Web, DVD, Audio, (anything without page numbers). This would be the first word of the Title

(Danhof) One more... Web, video, audio (anything without page – an example that could come from the Web, video, audio (anything without page numbers BUT with an author). This would be the Author

Let’s see what intext citations look like in a research paper……

And, Here is another Citation!

In summary – your in-text citation has: 1. Parentheses 2 In summary – your in-text citation has: 1. Parentheses 2. The first word of your “Works Cited” Citation 3. Page numbers if a Print medium

So….Do you see the connection between the Works Cited page and the In-text Citation?

Every In-text Citation must have… A Citation on your Works Cited Page

And….Every Works Cited Citation must have at least… One In-Text Citation in your Paper!

For Example…. Works Cited Page Research Paper /

Here’s Another!!!!!

So, These are the MLA Basics!!

Not Too Hard – if you take it a step at a time!!

Research can be FUN!! Honest!!!