MLA Documentation

Parenthetical Documentation The purpose of parenthetical documentation is to indicate what the source is of the information you have referenced. All information, ideas, facts, graphics etc. that is not common knowledge must be documented. Parenthetical documentation refers the reader of your paper to the works cited page.

Parenthetical Documentation In most cases the author’s last name and page reference are enough to identify the source from within the information was taken. Whatever is in the (citation) should be on the “Works Cited” page “In the beginning we were just about in the same boat as Adam and Eve. We had to learn the names of everything. Nkoko, mongo, zulu—river, mountain, sky” (Kingsolver 123).

Works Cited Page Author, Title, City, Publisher, Date are the basic elements of a works cited entry. To document the book from which I took the previous quotation: Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.

Works Cited Page Works cited pages should be in the following format: Center “Works Cited” at the top of the page List sources in alphabetical order Do not number the sources Indent all lines after the first line of an entry –Hanging indent Be sure to end every entry with a period Double space!

Remember Format is important. You don’t have to memorize the format if you have a reference and look it up. Parenthetical documentation allows the reader to find the source in the works cited page. The works cited page should be the last page in your document.

Remember You should have A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker to help with documentation. You should use the appropriate format whenever you have to cite a source to avoid plagiarism.