Citing Sources Using the MLA Format By: L. Edwards, Library Media Specialist, LCPS,

What is MLA style?   an acronym for Modern Language Association of America   a method of giving credit to sources in student research papers and scholarly manuscripts at all educational levels

Why use the MLA style? Proper use of MLA style shows: the credibility of writers and accountability to their sources. The MLA style is one method used to cite sources and can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism. What is plagiarism? (a serious offense) The purposeful or accidental use of source material by other writers without giving appropriate credit.

Avoiding Plagiarism According to the Guide to MLA Documentation, plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit or without giving any credit at all to the writer of the original (Trimmer 25). Whether intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense that can be avoided by using the following guidelines...

General Guidelines (for your MLA formatted research assignment) 1. Always follow the guidelines of your teacher regarding fonts, spacing, margins, numbering, etc. 2. For titles, use either underlining or italics throughout your essay, but be consistent. 3. Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.

General Guidelines (continued) 4. In the top left corner of the 1st page include the following: your name, the course, your instructor’s name, and the date. 5. If you are asked to number the pages, create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner. 6. Center your title on the line below the header with your name, and begin your paper immediately below the title.

Example of a 1st page using MLA Title Sometimes this information is reversed. Page number with your with your last name last name in case pages get separate d. in case pages get separate d. Do this on each page Indenting at the beginning of the paragraph is optional. Check with your teacher for their preference. McGee 1 Maggie McGee Civics 8 Ms. Johnson 10 December 2003 Hiroshima: The First Target of the Atomic Bomb It was an afternoon when President Harry Truman gave the order to drop an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Hours later, in the early morning of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named the Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima. This was the beginning of the end of the second world war.

Parenthetical Citations … Some Examples Example #1 - Author’s name in text, Page at end In John Malam’s book, The Bombing of Hiroshima, he quotes Robert Oppenheimer’s statements following the explosion: “We waited until the blast had passed, “We waited until the blast had passed, walked out of the shelter and then walked out of the shelter and then it was extremely solemn. We knew it was extremely solemn. We knew the world would not be the same” (15). the world would not be the same” (15). Indenting does not need to be done, but can be used to make a quote more noticeable. Particularly when the quote is longer than a few sentences. Option to Example #1 - No title mentioned, information not quoted, author’s name and pages given at the end (This is very useful if you are not quoting, but summarizing or paraphrasing instead.) Robert Oppenheimer described the world after the blast as extremely solemn (Malam 15).

3 Ways to “Borrow” Information Quoting- easiest way, but use selectively and quote only the passages that deal directly with your subject in memorable language. If you decide to omit part of the passage, use ellipsis points (…) to indicate omitted words from the original source (Trimmer 22). Paraphrasing- restates the content of a short passage phrase by phrase, recasting the author’s words in your own (Trimmer 24). Summarizing-condenses the content of a lengthy passage, reformulate the main idea and outline main points (Trimmer 24).

Quoting (Author in text, page at end) John Malam, in his book The Bombing of Hiroshima, recounts statements of Albert Einstein, whose letter encouraged the U.S. to build the atomic bomb. He said: “I could burn my fingers that I wrote that first letter to Roosevelt” (27). OR (Author and page at end) Albert Einstein’s response after the bombing of Hiroshima is telling of the horrific aftermath and his guilt resulting from the event. In reflecting on a letter he had once written to President Roosevelt regarding uranium, he said, I could “burn my fingers” for ever writing it (Malam 27).

Paraphrasing (Author, Page at the end of the paraphrase) President Truman was pleased that the testing of the atomic bomb had gone so well. In his opinion, “the atomic bomb could be used to bring the war in the Pacific to a quick end and, therefore, save American lives” (Malam 18). Summarizing (Author, Page at the end of the summary) Though a tough political situation, President Truman thought it would be best to use the atomic bomb to bring the war in the Pacific to an end (Malam 18).

DON’T FORGET… Plagiarism is a serious offense that strips individuals of their personal accomplishments. It is basically “stealing” from someone, so instead try “borrowing” and saying “thank you” by citing your sources using MLA. Good Luck with your research!

More Questions? --- Go To: The LCPS Library Online Catalog that you use in the library to search for books is available online at  Click on Citation Styles  Then click on Long Island Univ.. C.W. Post Campus  Then click on the citation style for research papers … MLA

Eagle Ridge’s website has specifics on how to cite various sources using MLA for your Works Cited page. Eagle Ridge’s website has specifics on how to cite various sources using MLA for your Works Cited page.

Works Cited Gibaldi, Joseph, and Walter S. Achtert. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: Modern Language Association of America, Malam, John. The Bombing of Hiroshima. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, MLA. 10 January Modern Language Association.10 February MLA. 10 January Modern Language Association.10 February MLA Style Citations. 7 May 2004 University of California Berkley Library. 10 February MLA Style Citations. 7 May 2004 University of California Berkley Library. 10 February Trimmer, Joseph F. A Guide to MLA Documentation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.