English B1A MLA Works Cited Page

The Works Cited Page MLA uses a works cited page in conjunction with in-text citations to give readers complete bibliographic information. In-text citations are brief so they don’t disrupt the flow of your writing. They mention where in the source to find that particular piece of information (page or paragraph number). Works Cited entries contain everything else a reader would need to find the source themselves—publication information, complete title, etc.

References Creating a works cited page involves careful attention to detail—punctuation, spacing, and italicizing all count. Therefore, when making a works cited page, you will need to consult either the textbook or an online reference for formatting details. A good online sources is Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL). If you type “Purdue OWL” into google, it should be the first cite to pop up.

How to use your references MLA categorizes sources by type. Your first step in creating a works cited entry is to see what type of source you have. Then, look up that source type in your reference to find an explanation and example entry to follow. Follow this to the best of your ability. The library has a great “cheat sheet” to follow. The tutors at the writing center are all familiar with MLA, too.

Putting Together the Page Once your individual citations are complete, now you need to put together your page. Here are some tips to remember: Your last name and page number should still be in the upper right hand corner of the page. The page number should be in order (not start over with 1—see me if you need help with this). Your title, Works Cited, should be centered (no bold, italics, or underlining). Each entry should be in alphabetical order. Each entry should start flush with the left margin. Second and subsequent lines should be indented. The entire page should be double spaced See examples on my website and in the textbook.

Activity Working together in groups, create a works cited page using the sources I give to you. Keep in mind the details for each entry and the details for the entire page. Put all your group members’ names on the page and be prepared to turn in your paper at the end of class.