MLA Format Workshop By Tatevik and Melissa

Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of this workshop… Students will have a clearer understanding of MLA Format. Students will feel more comfortable implementing MLA Formatting procedures on their own. Students will understand the importance of citing sources. Students will become aware of plagiarism and will know how to avoid plagiarizing. Students will be able to create their own works cited page to document the sources they use in essays.

Modern Language Association: The Modern Language Association's writing format is a series of regulations and guidelines for writers. It is more organized for most essay writers to use a consistent writing style for essays and citations. In college, using an organized format also allows your teachers and fellow readers to clearly understand your essays.

Basics Features of MLA: Times New Roman font, 12 point size. Double-space entire paper. All margins should be set to 1”. Include a header with your last name and page number at the upper-right hand corner of your essay. Include a heading in the left-hand corner of the first page, including your name, instructor’s name, class name, and the date. The title must follow the heading and will be centered. Do NOT underline, bold, or “quote” your title. Include in-text citations and works cited page. Basics Features of MLA:

Example: First page of an essay in MLA format.

Citations: What are they and why are they important? Citations are used to credit a source that you obtain information from. This is necessary in any and all writing pieces, as it is important to credit the work of others. Avoid unintentional plagiarizing. PLAGIARISM: The act of using another person’s words or ideas in the attempt of passing them off as your own. Consequences for plagiarizing, even if unintentional, can result in academic suspension and even expulsion.

Citations: continued. Citations are not just used when quoting. If you summarize or rephrase another individual’s ideas, then you must still cite them as a source. If the information is taken verbally (interview, class lecture) you must still cite that information. Even if you are taking information from your previous essay, you must still cite it.

How to cite: in-text citations. There are many different methods of citing in your text. In-text citations usually consist of the author’s name and the page number the information/quote was found on (placed at the end of the sentence). Examples: In the novel The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, the narrator indentifies her insecurities when she states, “Even without makeup, I could never pass for true Chinese” (142). In Wuthering Heights, Mr. Earnshaw’s health “. . . began to fail. He had been active and healthy, yet his strength left him suddenly. . .” (Brontë 44).

The works cited page should include a detailed list of all the outside sources used in the essay. It should be written on a separate page. The sources should be stated in alphabetical order. Use hanging indentation for every source. Books, magazines, online sources, videos, movies and all other sources have to include their own citation. Pay special attention to punctuation and order of the information provided. Works Cited

Works Cited page:

Works Cited: Books Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Signet Classic, 1993. 42-67. Print. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: Putnam's, 1989. Print. Last, first name Title. Place of publication: Publisher, Date of publication (year). of author. Page numbers used. Last, first name Title. Place of publication: Publisher, Date of publication (year). of author.

Works Cited: Articles from a website. Mitchoff, Kate Houston. "Web sites." Teacher Librarian 33.1 (2005): 7+. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

Works Cited http://www.ehow.com/about_5063067_define-mla-writing- format.html

In conclusion, Any questions? Please fill out an evaluation form before leaving and don’t forget to take home our official handout on MLA Format!