MLA FORMAT

MLA stands for Modern Language Association MLA is simply a way of formatting research papers. MLA is used in most Colleges and Universities. MLA is especially important when creating a Works Cited (list of sources used) page

MLA formatted papers usually have (a): parenthetical citations – credit given to an author when quoted. Credit is given by using the author’ last name and the page number from where the quotes came from. For Example (Lee 27) Works Cited – a page on which all the references used in your paper are listed. (Like a Bibliography)

IMPORTANT When using MLA format to create a Works Cited page: Every COMMA, Every PERIOD AND Every CAPITAL LETTER COUNTS. Every LINE OF AN ENTRY AFTER THE FIRST IS INDENTED (hanging indent) Every line is EQUALLY DOUBLE SPACED (writing on every other line) The Entries are listed ALPHABETICALLY based on the first word in the entry.

This is what a Works Cited page in MLA looks like. Barrison, Dave, and Rick Pearson. Peter and the Starcatchers. Disney Editions, 2004. Gillespie, Paula, et al. A Guide to Peer Tutoring. Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2000. Little Child Lost. City Publications, 2010. Potter, Harry. "How I Defeated Voldemort." Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 12 Dec. 2007, www.hsofww.edu. Accessed 31 Dec. 2008. Rainsford, Sanger. "How I Defeated General Zaroff.” Hunting Yesterday and Today, 31 Dec. 2000, pp. 12-15.

MLA: Book with One Author Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication, Name of Publisher, Publication Date. *Note: The City of Publication should only be used if the book was published before 1900, if the publisher has offices in more than one country, or if the publisher is unknown in North America. EXAMPLE: Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Parenthetical Citation: (Barrison and Pearson 12) MLA: Book with 2 Authors EXAMPLE: Barrison, Dave, and Rick Pearson. Peter and the Starcatchers. Disney Editions, 2004. Parenthetical Citation: (Barrison and Pearson 12) What’s Different? The second author is listed second by first name then last name.

MLA: Book with 3 or more Authors EXAMPLE: Gillespie, Paula, et al. A Guide to Peer Tutoring. Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Parenthetical Citation: (Gillespie et al. 24) What’s Different? If there are three or more authors, list only the first author followed by the phrase et al. (Latin for "and others") in place of the subsequent authors' names.

MLA: Book with No Author Little Child Lost. City Publications, 2010. Parenthetical Citation: (Little Child Lost 12) What’s Different? The title starts the entry instead of the author’s name.

MLA: Article from a Newspaper or Magazine Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine/Newspaper, Day Month Year, page(s). EXAMPLE: (made-up) Rainsford, Sanger. "How I Defeated General Zaroff.” Hunting Yesterday and Today, 31 Dec. 2000, pp. 12-15. Parenthetical Citation: (Rainsford 12)

MLA: Article from the Internet Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. “Title of Internet Article/Page.” Name of Internet Site or Organization, Date of Publication, Web Address. Accessed Day Month Year. EXAMPLE: (made-up) Potter, Harry. "How I Defeated Voldemort." Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 12 Dec. 2007, www.hsofww.edu. Accessed 31 Dec. 2008. Parenthetical Citation: (Potter)

Remember Major Works are Underlined (if hand-written) or Italicized (if typed), but NEVER both!!!!!!

Review of Proper Documentation How do you differentiate between a major work and a minor work in writing? Be specific. Hint: Remember the Barnes and Noble rule * Major works can be bought directly off the shelf, minor works can not.

This is what a Works Cited page in MLA looks like. Barrison, Dave, and Rick Pearson. Peter and the Starcatchers. Disney Editions, 2004. Gillespie, Paula, et al. A Guide to Peer Tutoring. Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2000. Little Child Lost. City Publications, 2010. Potter, Harry. "How I Defeated Voldemort." Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 12 Dec. 2007, www.hsofww.edu. Accessed 31 Dec. 2008. Rainsford, Sanger. "How I Defeated General Zaroff.” Hunting Yesterday and Today, 31 Dec. 2000, pp. 12-15.

Your Assignment Paired Task: Create a works cited page with A book with one author A book with two authors A book with three authors A book with no author A magazine article An internet article You can use your notes  To Be Successful Identify each source Alphabetize Review format Double space Hanging indent First word and all major words in title capitalized Create Works Cited