Citing Textual Evidence Using MLA Format In bEN Mikaelsen’s Touching Spirit Bear BE PREPARED with a & With Media Specialist, Mrs. Baker

Recall Prior Knowledge How do you prove a point? How do you prove a point when talking about a book?

What is MLA? MLA refers to the Modern Language Association. Several different formats exist for citing research. The MLA citation method is most commonly used in English classes.

Citing a Book For printed sources (books, magazines etc.) with a single named author, the in-text citation would appear as follows: Cole Matthews illustrates his selfishness and lack of empathy when he thinks to himself “this wouldn’t have happened if Peter had kept his mouth shut” (Mikaelsen 40). SPACE

Quote within a Quote Examples: Cole emphasizes to the Circle, “ ‘ I am telling the truth when I say I saw a Spirit Bear’ ” (Mikaelsen 130). Edwin and Garvey challenge Cole to explain how his two days of banishment changed him, and Cole explains, “ ‘ I realized that I was dying and I had never really even lived. Nobody trusted me. I had never loved anybody, and nobody had ever really loved me’ ” (Mikaelsen 132).

Quotations as Textual Evidence Quotations should be used when . . 1. the exact wording is important. 2. the quoted material helps make or support the point of the paragraph. Example: Cole realizes that he wants to live: “To be alive was to have choice. The power to choose was real power, not the fake power of making others afraid” (Mikaelsen 83).

Paraphrasing Textual Evidence Paraphrasing should be used when . . . 1. The exact wording is not necessary to make your point. 2. You can more thoroughly explain the quote by using your own words. Example: After Cole is mauled by the bear and is lying in complete agony, he realizes his powerlessness to change his predicament and is overcome by loneliness (Mikaelsen 73).

1 DEVICE PER GROUP! GROUP NAME?