MLA Documentation

Research Paper Format Paper: Standard typeface (Times New Roman) Standard type size (12 point) Left alignment 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper One inch margins (top, bottom, sides) Double-spaced throughout Indent first word of paragraph

Research Paper Format Heading: Title: Flush Left on first page ONLY Your name Instructor’s name Course number Date Title: Center Do not underline

Research Paper Format Page Numbers—in the header: Right-hand corner of page One-half inch from top Flush with right margin Your last name and page number Consecutive numbers No hyphen, period, “page” separations

(Stith)

Parenthetical Citation Example: Paul Bunyan is an American folklore hero whose blue ox was a menace (Stout 65). Works cited list: Stout, Avery. American Folklore. New York: Collins, 1968.

(Stith)

Works Cited The last page(s) of the paper Center the title One inch from top of page Double-space throughout Begin entry flush with left margin Hanging indent if entry more than one line Alphabetical listing

(Stith)

Documenting Sources Book by a single author: For example: Author’s last name, first name. Title of book. Place of publication: Name of Publisher, Date. For example: Smith, John. Red Cars at Dawn. Cincinnati: Harper, 2005.

Documenting Sources Book by two or more authors: For example: Author’s last name, first name and 2nd author’s first and last name. Title of book. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher, Date. For example: Smith, John, and Mary Johnson. Unicorns and Purple Palaces. Cincinnati: Harper, 2005.

Documenting Sources For example: Two or more books by same author: Author’s last name, first name. Title of book. Date of publication: Name of Publisher, Date. For example: Smith, John, ed. Red Cars in the Evening. Cincinnati: Harper, 2005. ---, Why Black Cars Hide at Dawn. Cincinnati: Harper, 2005.

Documenting Sources Book by an editor: For example: Editor's last name, first name, and abbreviation for editor. Title of book. Place of publication: Name of publisher, date. For example: Lopate, Philip, ed. American Indians on the Wild West. Chicago: Doubleday, 1989.

Documenting Sources An article in a magazine: For example: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of article.” Magazine name. The complete date: page numbers of the article. For example: Mrehta, Poual. “Pigs Fly First Class.” Comic Weekly. 4 Oct. 1999: 14-21.

Documenting Sources Electronic publications: For example: Author’s last name, first name (if known). “Title of the document.” Information about electronic publication. Date site was last updated. Date of access. <URL>. For example: Rosen, Ron. “Computers Can Fly.” Electronic City. 2003. 5 Aug. 2004. <www.pigsfeet.org>.

Documenting Sources Electronic publication with no author: “Title of the document.” Information about electronic publication. Date of site update. Date of access. <URL>. For example: “When the Elephants Sang.” AnimalsOnline. 2003. 5 Aug. 2004. <www.Animalsonline.com>.

Documenting Sources An article in a journal: For example: Author’s last name, first name. “Title of the article.” Publication Information. For example: Trumpeter, Jane. “Widgeons Are Loose in the Mall.” Children’s Digest. Philadelphia, 2004.

Documenting Sources An anthology: For example: Editor’s last name, first name, ed. Title of book. Publication information. For example: Smith, John, ed. Red Cars at Dawn. Cincinnati: Harper, 2005.

Documenting Sources A work in an anthology: For example: Author, title, and (if relevant) translator of the part of the book being cited, title of anthology, editor/translator/compiler, publication information, page numbers of the cited piece. For example: Smith, Isabel. “Frog’s Friend.” Trans. Andrew Marshall. Children’s Mythology. Ed. Tim Tottleberry. Pittsburg, 1979. 41-50.

Documenting Sources An anonymous article: For example: [Omit any initial, A, An, or The in the group name] “Title of article.” Publication and complete date: pages of article. For example: “Beyond the Power Rangers: Forecasting New Heroes.” Highlights 15 Mar. 2001: 13-18.

Documenting Sources Television or radio program: For example: “Title of episode.” Title of program. Title of series. Name of the network. Call letters, and city (if any). Complete broadcast date. For example: “Pigs In Space.” Muppets Live. Jim Henson’s Muppets. Universal. NBS, New York. 3 May 1987.

Documenting Sources A lecture: For example: Speaker’s last name, first name. “Title of the presentation (or appropriate descriptors.” Sponsoring organization (if applicable). Location. Date. For example: Thergel, Suttud. “Shock-Proofing Your Semester.” PSA Student Senate. Rose Grounds, New Delhi. 29 Dec. 1978.

Works Cited Gibaldi, Joseph, ed. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York, 2003. OWL Online Writing Lab. 28 Nov. 2005. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/r esearch/r_mla.html#Works-Cited. Stith, Becca. “Citing Sources.” Blue Valley West High School. 28 Nov. 2005. www.bv.229.k12.ks.us/bvw_lmc/citing.htm. Student Resource Center. Stong College. 28 Nov. 2005. http://www.yorku.ca/stong/production/.