MLA Documentation Using In-text reference

Quotation and Paraphrase  A quotation is a reference to written source, citing the exact words used by the writer. The quotation is enclosed by quotations marks.  A paraphrase is a word-by-word citation in which the original words from a written source are changed into your words.  Note: Keep quotations short, using key words or short phrases. Paraphrases can be a bit longer.

FTR  FTR = First Time Reference. Identify the full name of the writer, and the full name of the source.

FTR Examples  (Quotation) In “Words That Wound,” Kathleen Vail mentions that for many students, “school is a torture chamber from which there is no escape” (1).  (Quotation) Kathleen Vail notes in her article, “Words That Wound,” that for many students, “school is a torture chamber from which there is no escape”(1).  (Paraphrase) Kathleen Vail suggests in her article, Words That Wound,” that for many students school is a painful place from which it is possible to get away (1)  (Paraphrase) In her article, “Words That Wound,” the writer, Kathleen Vail compares school to a place in which students are trapped and in which they suffer (1).

LTR  LTR = Later Time Reference. This can be the second time or later that a reference is mentioned. Do not give the full name of the author or the title of the source.

LTR Examples  (Quotation) Vail mentions that for many students, “school is a torture chamber” (1).  (Quotation) School, for many students, is “a torture chamber” (Vail 1).  (Paraphrase) Vail mentions that for many students school can be a painful place (1).  (Paraphrase) School is a place in which students are subjected to painful treatment (Vail 1).

Using Internal sources  Identify the person (give the person’s title, or position, or expertise)

Quoting or paraphrasing an Internal Source  (Quotation) June Arnette, who is an associate director of the National School Safety Center, notes that It is an “ ‘imbalance of power, sustained over a long period of time’ “ that leads to the problem of bullying (Vail 1).  (Paraphrase) June Arnette, who is an associate direction of the National School Safety Center, notes that the problem of bullying comes from one student having power over another, and this happens over an extended period of time (Vail 1).

Framing A Quotation or a Paraphrase  Make sure to frame citations within a sentence.  Introduction____________, “quotation_________________”( ).  Introduction________________paraphrase___________________( ).

Framing Quotations and Paraphrases WRONG: “Before he pulled the trigger, he said his last words: ‘I can’t take this anymore’ “ (Vail 1). CORRECT: Vail notes that before Brian “pulled the trigger, he said his last words: ‘ I can’t take this anymore’ “ (1). WRONG: Brian fired the pistol and said that he could not live like this anymore(1). CORRECT: Vail noted that Brian fired the pistol and said that he could not live like that anymore.

Write:  Two FTR quotations.  Two FTR paraphrases.  Two LTR quotations.  Two LTR parphrases Exercise: Choose 2 different readings from our text (With author and title)

Questions?