Using MLA formatting Quoting and Parenthetical Citation (Hey! Who just yawned!?! Stop it!)

ALWAYS INTRODUCE YOUR QUOTE!!! AND INTRODUCTIONS MUST CONNECT TO QUOTE WRONG – Mama is very polite and concerned about the appearance of her house. “ Well, you’re welcome. I just hope you understand that our house don’t always look like this.” RIGHT Mama shows her concern for appearances: “ Well, you’re welcome. I just hope you understand that our house don’t always look like this” (Hansberry 64).

ALWAYS INTRODUCE YOUR QUOTE!!! AND INTRODUCTIONS MUST CONNECT TO QUOTE RIGHT – Mama shows her concern for appearances while talking to Asagai when she replies, “ Well, you’re welcome. I just hope you understand that our house don’t always look like this” (Hansberry 64). RIGHT – Showing concern for appearances Mama says, “ Well, you’re welcome. I just hope you understand that our house don’t always look like this” (Hansberry 64).

Cite Paraphrased info. that is not common knowledge (common to the audience of the essay). Common knowledge: Columbus sailed to America in Lennie was mentally handicapped. Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun in Benneatha and Walter Younger are dreamers. Paraphrased info from research: The philosopher, I. Thinctumich, concluded that Hansberry’s work was a direct product of the author’s experience with racism from her childhood in Chicago’s Southside (Thinctumich 3). Notice I did not use quotes, because I put the info. in my own words, so no quotes needed!

How to Quote Prose Italicize the titles of works published independently, like books or magazines or epic poems: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or New York Times or The Odyssey Use quotation marks for the titles of works published within larger works, like essays, articles, chapters, short poem, or short stories: “The Monkey’s Paw” or “Dodgers Dodge the Boston Bullet” or “The Raven”

#’s,, ’s and. ’s Cite page numbers up to 100 like this: 34-37; above 100, repeat only the last two figures: (but of course, and ). Commas ALWAYS go outside inside quotation marks: o “Commas,” says Mrs. Jennings, “ALWAYS go inside quotation marks” (Jennings 52). Periods ALWAYS go inside outside parenthesis o “Periods,” says Mrs. Jennings, “ALWAYS go outside parenthesis ” (Jennings 52).

EXAMPLES IF AUTHOR’S NAME IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE QUOTE’S INTRODUCTION (Hansberry 7). (Steinbeck 91-92). (Shakespeare ). (Banton ). IF AUTHOR’S NAME IS MENTIONED IN THE QUOTE’S INTRODUCTION OR IF YOUR WORK CITED HAS ONLY ONE WORK IN IT. (7). (91-92). (101-09). ( ).

And the winning number is... 4 If a prose quotation runs four lines or less, put it in quotation marks and incorporate it in the text: If a prose quotation runs to more than four lines, set it off from your text by beginning a new line, indenting one inch from the left margin, and type it double-spaced, without adding quotation marks. A colon (:) generally introduces an indented quotation. In the middle of Act I,i of A Raisin in the Sun, Walter shares his plans for acquiring and running a liquor store. His dreams are ambitious but not out of reach. Ruth however wants to hear none of, telling Walter, “eat your eggs” (Hansberry 32). In the opening director’s notes, Hansberry describes the Younger apartment as time-worn and weary : Its furnishings are typical... And their primary feature now is that they have clearly had to accommodate the living of too many people for too many years – and they are tired (23). Since you mention the author in the lead up to the quote, you do not have to put the last name.

Its furnishings are typical... And their primary feature now is that they have clearly had to accommodate the living of too many people for too many years – and they are tired (23). DID YOU NOTICE WHERE THE PERIOD GOES??? What about the ELIPSES? OUTSIDE THE PARENTHESIS

Sometimes you don’t need it all Indicate the omission of words, phrases, or sentences from a within a quoted passage with an ellipsis, three periods with a space before each and a space after the last (... ). Do NOT use an ellipsis to begin or end a quotation. Its furnishings are typical... And their primary feature now is that they have clearly had to accommodate the living of too many people for too many years – and they are tired (23).

REMEMBER Quotes should SUPPORT your argument. Quotes should ALWAYS be INTRODUCED by your own words. Quotes should be CONNECTED to the introduction. Quotes of FOUR + are block INDENTED. Periods go OUTSIDE the last parenthesis (4). Use an ELEPSIS (... ) for OMITTED words Cite a PARAPHRASE if NOT common knowlegde but DO NOT QUOTE THE PARAPHRASE

My P.S. to you... Don’t always write “says” before a quote Says Say is a sad little word. Use it as sparingly as possible. Here are some more vivid verbs: Questions Expresses Reflects Reiterates Asserts Argues Points out Contends Maintains Challenges Insists States Declares Proclaims Broadcasts Reveals Articulates Voices