1. What to do? What
Citations

2. Citations
Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. It should have the same one-inch margins and last name, page number header as the rest of your paper.
Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.
Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.
Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.
Alphabetize by the first piece of information in the citation- typically author’s last name.

3. Important Note on the Use of URLs in MLA
MLA no longer requires the use of URLs in MLA citations. Because Web addresses are not static (i.e., they change often) and because documents sometimes appear in multiple places on the Web (e.g., on multiple databases), MLA explains that most readers can find electronic sources via title or author searches in Internet Search Engines.
For instructors or editors who still wish to require the use of URLs, MLA suggests that the URL appear in angle brackets after the date of access. Break URLs only after slashes.
Ex:
Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. S. H. Butcher. The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomic and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 13 Sept Web. 4 Nov ‹
- Purdue University Online Writing Lab

4. In-text citation
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence.
Ex:
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). 
Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

5. In-text citation if you don’t know the author’s name
When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number.
Ex:
We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has "more readily accessible climatic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change " ("Impact of Global Warming" 6).

6. Use direct quotations as evidence for your own argument
This means you will put the quote INTO your sentence. A quote should not stand alone.
Ex:
X states, “_______” (Rogers 212).
As the world famous scholar X explains it, “_______” (Rogers 212).
X’s perspective is that “_____” (Rogers 212).

7. Explaining AFTER your quote
Can I say What this quote shows is…
NO!
You can say:
In other words, X asserts that____.
X is insisting that______.
The basis of X’s argument is _____.

8. Practice!
Summarizing and Paraphrasing

9. It is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.
Quotations must be identical to the original, using the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.
Summarizing involve s putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s).
It is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.
Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words.
A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source.
Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage- it’s condensed.

10. Quote
Paraphrase
Summarize
Matches word for word
Your words
Matches the same meaning, in your words
Sums up the main point
Shows the meaning of the author’s material
Show the meaning of the overall point
Must cite it
First sentence: “[John Doe]‘s
essay [‘Wild Gift’] states that...”
Shows exact point or words
Helps not quote too much; helps reword something difficult
Helps not quote too much; shows only main point; MUCh shorter

11. Practice summarizing
Read the article “So That Nobody Has To Go To School If They Don't Want To.”
Turn the article over and write the meaning of the article in words.

12. So That Nobody Has To Go To School If They Don't Want To
Example summary: Roger Sipher makes his case for getting rid of compulsory-attendance laws in primary and secondary schools with six arguments. These fall into three groups—first that education is for those who want to learn and by including those that don't want to learn, everyone suffers. Second, that grades would be reflective of effort and elementary school teachers wouldn't feel compelled to pass failing students. Third, that schools would both save money and save face with the elimination of compulsory-attendance laws.

14. Practice paraphrasing
Read the article “So That Nobody Has To Go To School If They Don't Want To.” Take notes on the main points, perhaps bullet points. Turn the article over and use the notes to write your version of the article. Turn the article over and check yourself.
Do not lose original meaning
Do not copy word for word
Do not skip parts

15. Example paraphrase of the essay's conclusion:
 Roger Sipher concludes his essay by insisting that schools have failed to fulfill their primary duty of education because they try to fill multiple social functions (para. 17).

16. Free write for 7 minutes
Choose any of the following topics. Your response will be used for the class.
1. What was the most exciting thing about your Christmas break?
2. Describe a situation where something completely wacky happened.
3. Narrate your perfect graduation day.

17. Free write part 2
Now walk around the room. When I say stop, sit at someone else’s seat.
Read their piece. Turn it over.
Summarize in words.
Return to your seat. Was your piece summarized correctly?

18. Example of paraphrase The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D.Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976):
A legitimate paraphrase:
In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).
A plagiarized version:
Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

19. Example of summary The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D.Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976):
An acceptable summary:
Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

20. Example quotation
According to Roger Sipher, a solution to the perceived crisis of American education is to "Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow only those who are committed to getting an education to attend" (3).
Capitalize a full sentence as an imbedded quote; do not capitalize a fragment.