MLA Source Integration Created and Presented by the CASA Writing Center Provide highlighters, scratch paper, and pens/pencils to all tables.

Our Goal Today Focus on integrating and citing sources in MLA. Discuss how to effectively integrate sources into your writing. Discuss how to correctly cite sources in MLA. Practice creating in-text citations within your own writing. Answer any questions you have about integrated sources in MLA.

Why do I have to cite? What is the purpose of a Works Cited? A list of your Works Cited at the end of your paper informs your reader of which sources you used to write this paper, when they were published, and where they can be located. Why do I have to cite in-text? A parenthetical, or in-text, citation signals to your reader that you are borrowing information from an outside source. Each in-text citation must have a corresponding entry on the Works Cited page. e.g. (Swales 471) should direct your reader to a Works Cited entry that begins with Swales.

Works Cited Page Works Cited is the title and should be centered If there is only one citation – Work Cited The Works Cited list should: be in alphabetical order have a hanging indent for each entry be double spaced

Example: Works Cited Page Notice: heading (Smith 15), title (Works Cited), alphabetical, handing indent

Citing Sources In-text citations are required when you use information from a source, whether that information is quoted or paraphrased. In-text citations (parenthetical citations) are meant to let your reader know exactly when you use source information. An in-text citation serves as a connection to your Works Cited page, which allows others to duplicate your research.

Integrating Sources When you need to cite a source in your own writing, there are two options available to you: Author named in parentheses, using a parenthetical citation: (Swales 471). Author named in sentence, using a signal phrase: John Swales explains that … (471). Please note that our examples are typed in RED; however, this is only to draw attention to them. Citations and signal phrases should not be typed in red in your own paper. First, we will discuss parenthetical citations and then we will discuss signal phrases.

Looking at your own writing… Select a page in your paper that has a lot of in-text citations highlighted. How many of your citations have the author named a sentence? How many of your citations have the author named in parentheses, at the end of the sentence? How many of your citations have no author? Have each student answer these questions and write down their own numbers on their handout. Then have students compare at their table and then ask the whole class questions: e.g. How many of you have more authors named in the sentence than at the end of the sentence? What about the other way around? When integrating sources in your writing, it is a good idea to use a variety of methods – naming author in sentence or at end of sentence. Today, we will discuss both parenthetical citations and signal phrases. As we go through the workshop, feel free to check your own in-text citations as well as ask questions. Image retrieved from http://czechingin.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/count-von-count-sesame-street.jpg

In-text Citations: Basics Basic in-text citation format: Scholarly journal print: (Bagchi 43). Scholarly journal online/database: (Langhamer 176). Work in anthology: (Bordo 151). (Author’s Last Name page number). The point here is that if you have a source with an author(s) and page number, the citation is the same.

In-text Citations More than one author Entire website Video recording (Author A Last Name and Author B Last Name page number). (Hutcheon and Hutcheon 58). Entire website (Shortened Title of Web Page page number – if available). (Purdue Owl Family). Video recording (Creator’s name) (Next New Networks).

Citing Multiple or Repeating Sources When using multiple sources within the same paragraph, be sure to indicate the author in your citation or signal phrase. If you are discussing a single source within a paragraph, you can cite the author’s name and page number the first time and then only cite the page number for other citations. However, it is always a good idea to clearly indicate all ideas and sources you are borrowing. Each time you introduce a new idea, cite it using the author’s name.

In-text Citations: No Author For sources with no known author: Cite this work by the title Place title in quotation marks if it is a short work (e.g. articles) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire websites) Provide a page number You can use the full title in a signal phrase or an abbreviated version of the title in parentheses.

In-text Citations: No Author Website: (“Shortened title of page from website” page number). (“MLA Works Cited”). “MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format.” Purdue OWL. 2012. Web. 24 July 2011. Articles: (“Shortened title of article” page number). (“Impact of Global Warming”). “The Impact of Global Warming in North America.” Global Warming: Early Signs. 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 2009. This slide shows the formula of the in-text citation for no author for a website or a short online article, followed by the parenthetical example, followed by the corresponding Works Cited entry.

Example: In-text Citation with No Author We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has “more readily accessible climactic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change . . . ” (“Impact of Global Warming” 6). “The Impact of Global Warming in North America” explains that… (6). “The Impact of Global Warming in North America.” Global Warming: Early Signs. 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 2009. This shows a parenthetical citation as well as a citation using a signal phrase for a source with no author. The final bullet shows the corresponding Works Cited entry.

In-text Citations: The Tricky Stuff Section numbers: “If your source uses explicit paragraph numbers rather than page numbers – as, for example, some electronic publications do – give the relevant number or numbers preceded by the abbreviated par or pars” (6.4.2 MLA Handbook, 7th ed.). Authors with the same last name: If your Works Cited list contains more than one author with the same last name, the author’s first initial must be included in the parenthetical reference. Example: (A. Patterson 183-85).

In-text Citations: Same Author Two or more works by same author: When citing two or more works by the same author, put a comma after the author’s name and include the title of the work (if brief) or a shortened version of the title (6.4.6). Example 1: Shakespeare’s King Lear has been called a comedy of the grotesque” (Frye, Anatomy 237). Example 2: One’s death is not a unique experience, for “every moment we have lived through we have also died out of into another order” (Frye, Double Vision 85).

In-text Citations: Multiple Sources Two or more sources within the same citation: cite each work as your normally would in a reference, and use semicolons to separate the citations (6.4.9). Example: (Fukuyama 42; McRae 101-33).

In-text citations: Indirect Sources Taking material cited in another source and using it within your own work. Whenever possible, take material from the original source; however, sometimes only an indirect source is available. (6.4.7). This is common in newspaper articles. Say the NYT printed a story about Michelle Obama and used a quote from her – you would have to say Michelle Obama explained that…. Blah blah blah… (qtd in Author of article). Example: Samuel Johnson admitted that Edmund Burke was an “extraordinary man” (qtd. in Boswell 450).

Integrating Sources When you need to cite a source in your own writing, there are two options available to you: Author named in parentheses, using a parenthetical citation: (Swales 471). Author named in sentence, using a signal phrase: John Swales explains that … (471). As we mentioned earlier in the workshop, when citing sources in MLA, there are two options. We just discussed how to cite different types of sources in a parenthetical citation. Now we will discuss how to cite sources using a signal phrase.

Signal Phrases Signal phrasing can help you integrate sources into your own paper. Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using animals" (3). Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). Burke contends humans use symbols to interpret the messages in their environment (3). Signal phrases help with flow and to break up a string of citations in the body of the paper.

Signal Verbs Acknowledges Advises Argues Asserts Believes Claims Demonstrates Evaluates Expresses Identifies Indicates Maintains Proposes Reaffirms Recognizes Recommends Reveals States Stipulates Suggests Theorizes Urges Depending on the type of information you are integrating, you will want to select a verb that is appropriate. Look up words you don’t know – read them aloud to make sure they sound right.

Creating a Signal Phrase Author’s Name Signal Verb Source Material John Swales demonstrates … that a discourse community can be identified through six characteristics (471). John Swales demonstrates that a discourse community can be identified through six characteristics (471). You can also use this formula to introduce a direct quotation. In MLA, the first time you mention an author you use their FIRST and LAST name. Do not call him John. You may call him Swales after the first use.

Create Your Own Signal Phrase Author’s Name Signal Verb Source Material Your professor says you have at least two sources. Let’s create a signal phrase to integrate a source – either a paraphrase or a direct quote. You can write this down on your handout. Feel free to ask a consultant if you have any questions. Your handout has a list of signal verbs listed two slides back. (Have students share at their table. Ask for a student or two to share examples.)

Suggestions for Readability Place the period after the parentheses. (Thompson 29). Keep parenthetical citations brief. Use as few as possible. Give only the information needed to identify the source. Do not add citations unnecessarily. Place the citation as close as possible to the material being cited.

Any questions? CASA Writing Center http://casa.tamucc.edu/wc.php Consultants, MLA handbooks, and helpful handouts. Purdue OWL http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Great resources for MLA and APA.