1. Making Sense of MLA Format Citation
Krista Hoeksema
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Writing Center
Everyone writes. Whether they like to or not. Just about every student at KVCC will have to cite sometime during their college career

2. MLA citation making you weary?
This is what most students feel like at the thought of citing their papers… and in truth, it’s what most of the tutors feel like at the thought of trying to help a student muddle through citation. It can be overwhelming and confusing for a student when first presented with citing their papers. This PowerPoint will be an aid to both the student and the tutors

3. Well, help is on the way!
This PowerPoint along with the new mla citation sheets for the center will be an aid to both the student and the tutors!

4. There are two parts to MLA citation…
Parenthetical or in-text citations
Works Cited page
But first things first…

5. To give credit to your source To help locate the original documents
Why use MLA citation?
To give credit to your source
To help locate the original documents
To give your writing credibility
To avoid plagiarism
For MLA citation to make sense, we need to let the students know why they need to cite

6. What is plagiarism?
Using any information that is not common knowledge from any source and not giving proper credit through citation. You must cite ideas or words that are not your own or…
And we need to let students know that without proper citation, they are committing plagiarism is because many students have no idea that what they have written is plagiarism

7. face failure of the assignment or possibly expulsion

8. What needs to be cited in-text?
Direct quotations
Paraphrases
The first thing I’ll talk about is parenthetical citation

9. But quoting and paraphrasing can be tricky…
Let’s play a game to see how well you know how to quote and paraphrase…
NOTE: The following examples on paraphrasing are based on ideas from Doing Honest Work in College by Charles Lipson.

10. Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables. (from a book by Lola Boltjes)
Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse. (no citation)
Is this the proper way to cite?
No. Though the entire line is not used, it is the author’s idea and an exact quote. It needs to be enclosed in quotation marks and cited.
Let’s play a game… is this the proper way to cite? No…

11. Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables. (from a book by Lola Boltjes)
Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables (Boltjes 259).
No. This does cite the source, but the exact words are used, and they are not enclosed in quotation marks.
How about now? Still won’t do

12. Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables. (from a book by Lola Boltjes)
No. While the words are not exactly the authors, they are very similar, and the sentence format is basically the same.
Jane Doe passed most of her life away as a hermit, but she sometimes went out to parties and boogied down on tables (Boltjes 259).
Let’s try another…

13. Enough games…
Let’s get to the facts about quotations and paraphrases and how to cite them.

14. 1. Direct quotes
If more than 20 percent of your paper is quotes, which is someone’s exact words, then that’s too much! You want your paper to contain your writing. Too many quotes in a paper take away from the writer’s voice.

15. Proper citation for a direct quote in your paper is as follows:
Example:
“Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables” (Boltjes 259) .
Page number Author’s Last Name
change

16. Another way to cite a direct quote is to use a signal phrase to mention the author in the paper
Signal phrase Author
According to Boltjes, Doe “spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables” (259) Page number
*NOTE: When the author is mentioned, you do not need to include the last name within the parentheses at the end of the quote. The page number is enough.

17. What do you do when you don’t have a page number-such as with an internet source-to cite in parentheses?
You may then use either
the paragraph number (Lewis par. 5)
or section name (Brooks “Introduction”) in place of page numbers.
You may be thinking- “Hey, smarty-pants… what if I don’t have a page number?” blasted internet sources

18. Okay, what if there isn’t an author to cite?
You will then cite the title (shortened if necessary) of the article, story, or book in-text along with the page or section number.
Example: (“Traveling” par. 19)
*NOTE: You will also use the title, along with the author’s name in-text if you are citing more than one work by an author in your essay.
Example: (Frye, Double Vision 85)
Okaaay… I don’t have an author… now what? The title will also be used when you are quoting more than one work by an author to avoid confusion

19. For direct quotes that are longer than four lines, you will want to set the quote off from the rest of your paper with a block quote.
Sometimes, only sometimes, a longer quote is needed in a paper

20. At the end of “The Tell-Tale Heart”, the narrator’s calm facade steadily disintegrates:
The officers were satisfied. My MANNER had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears; but still they sat, and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness -- until, at length, I found that the noise was NOT within my ears. (Poe 247)
Note: quotation marks are not used for block quotes
1” margin punctuation author Page number(s) NOTE: Quotation marks are not used for block quotes.

21. But remember, use quotes sparingly
Most of your paper will be made up of paraphrases…
But watch the quotes…

22. 2. Paraphrases
Paraphrasing is another way of handling quotations. When paraphrasing, the writer relays the meaning in her own words.

23. An example of paraphrasing
Original quote:
“Jane Doe spent most of her life as a recluse in her home, but she occasionally ventured out to parties where she let her hair down and danced on tables” (Boltjes 259).
Paraphrase:
Although Jane Doe didn’t leave the house much, she did like to party every once in awhile (Boltjes 259).
change

24. Why is that a good paraphrase?
While it conveys the meaning of the quote, it is not too close to the author’s original words, and it is cited correctly.
Yeah, that’s a good paraphrase… BUT HOW DO I DO IT???

25. When paraphrasing…
Read the passage and make sure you understand its meaning
Think about how the passage relates to your paper
Turn the paper over and write the main idea in your own words on a note card (for more information on using note cards for you research paper, see the Writing Center’s handout on note taking)
Reread the quote making sure that you have not kept the same structure nor merely changed a few words

26. What is a Works Cited page?
A list of all sources that are referenced in your essay. It contains all the information that your reader needs to locate the sources cited in your essay.

27. Now what will your Works Cited page look like?
Brindle, Reginald Smith. “The Search Outwards: The Orient, Jazz, Archaisms.” The New Music: The Avant-Garde since New York: Oxford UP,
Burnett, James. “Ellington’s Place as a Composer.” Gammond
Duke Ellington’s Washington Estate of Mercer K. Ellington. 3 June 2002 <
Here’s an example of what it might look like… we’ll get more specific in a moment

28. Things to remember when making your Works Cited page
Center the words Works Cited-do not underline them-on a new page of your paper
Double space
Alphabetize all of your citations, even if your listing starts with a title
Start each new citation at the left margin; indent 5 spaces or a half inch for each subsequent line of an entry
Center
Double Space
Alphabetize
Start at left margin & indent 5 spaces or ½ inch for each subsequent line

29. One more thing to remember…
Many students get frustrated when doing a Works Cited page if they can’t find a piece of information such as the author or other publication information (particularly with internet sources).
I can’t tell you how many students come to me frustrated because they don’t have all the information needed for an entry

30. In that case…
Simply skip it and go on to the next piece of information.
You can’t make up information that isn’t there.
If there isn’t an author, start with the title…
If you can’t find a title, go on to the next piece of information needed for that entry.

31. The following slides will show examples of Works Cited entries based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Inside the brackets are the chapters for that listing.

32. Basic Book Entry Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
MLA Chapter for listing
Book with one author: [5.6.1]
Example:
Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. New York: Random, 1964.

33. Book with Two or more Authors: [5.6.4]
Example:
Anderson, Jack, and Bill Pronzine. The Cambodia File. New York: Doubleday, 1981.

34. Two or More works by the Same Author: [5.6.3]
*NOTE: The name of the author will only appear in the first entry. In the rest of the entries by that author, three hyphens will replace the author’s name.
Example:
King, Stephen. Dolores Claiborne. New York: Viking, 1993.
---. The Shining. New York: Doubleday, 1977.

35. A work in an anthology: [5.6.7]
Author of Story. "Title of Story." Title of Book. Name of Editor. Edition (if given). City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page numbers.
Example:
Poe, Edgar Allen. “The Black Cat.” Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw,

36. Encyclopedia and Reference Book: [5.6.8]
Author of Article (if given). "Article Title." Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Example:
Springer, Marlene. “Edith Newbold Jones Wharton.” American Women Writers From Colonial Times to the Present. Ed. Lina Mainiero. 5 vols. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1982.
Give full publication information for less familiar reference books
List only the edition and year of publication for familiar reference books
Add abbreviation Def. for definitions

37. Government Publication: [5.6.21] (If author is not known)
Name of Government. Name of Agency. Title of Publication. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Example:
Michigan State. Department of Consumer & Industry. Unemployment Agency 1999 Annual Report. Lansing: State of Michigan, 2000.
*NOTE: Consult the MLA Handbook for format on citing Congressional Record and other congressional documents.

38. Magazine Articles: [5.7.6]
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Day Month Year: Page(s).
Example:
Saporito, Bill. “The e-Health Revolution.” Time 27 June 2005:
*NOTE: Do not give volume and issue numbers for magazines.

39. Newspaper Articles: [5.7.5]
Author. "Title of Article." Name of Newspaper [City] Day Month Year, edition: Page(s).
Example:
Royse, David. “Dennis a Menace but not an Ivan.” Kalamazoo Gazette 11 July 2005: A3.
If name of city is in the title of the paper or the paper is nationally published (e.g. Wall Street Journal), city name is not needed
Volume and issue numbers are not listed

40. Television or Radio Program: [5.8.1]***
“Title of Episode or Segment”. Title of Program. Title of Series (if any). Name of Network. Call letters, City of Local Station. Day Month Year of Broadcast.
Example:
“Hurricane Katrina”. Dateline NBC. NBC. WOOD, Grand Rapids. 31 Aug
Need to find example of television program!

41. Film Recording: [5.8.3]
Title. Director. Distributor, Year of Release.
Example:
Chocolat. Dir. Lasse Hallstrom. Perf. Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Miramax, 2000.
*NOTE: names of the writer, performers, and producers can also be included between title and distributor.

42. Television Interview:
Personal Interview: [5.8.7]
Name of person interviewed. Kind of interview. Day(s) Month Year.
Example:
Lewis, Matt. Personal interview. 15 Mar
Television Interview:
Shortt, John. Interview with Anderson Cooper. 60 Minutes. CBS. WWMT, Kalamazoo. 12 Jan

43. Order of Operations for Citing Electronic Sources
Internet Sources
Order of Operations for Citing Electronic Sources
Author’s name
“Title of Document”
Title of Site
Date of publication or last update
Sponsor of site (if not named as author)
Date source accessed
<URL>

44. Document from a Web Site: [5.9.1]
Author. "Title of Document." Title of Print Publication Date: Page(s). Title of the Site. Editor. Date and/or Version Number. Name of Sponsoring Institution. Date of Access <URL>.
Example:
Alcott, Louisa May. “A Day.” Hospital Sketches and Camp Fireside Stories 1885: Electronic Text Center. Ed. Judy Boss Alderman Lib., U of Virginia. 25 July 2005 <
public/AlcAday.html >.
Note that the URL will not be underlined. Your computer will most likely want to underline it for you and make it a hyperlink. In that case, right click on the URL and click on Remove Hyperlink

45. Entire Internet Site-Scholarly Project or Professional Site: [5.9.2]
Title of the Site. Editor. Date and/or Version Number. Name of Sponsoring Institution. Date of Access <URL>.
Example:
Women Romantic-Era Writers. Ed. Adriana Craciun School of English and Humanities, Birkbeck, U of London. 25 July 2005 <
wrew.htm>.

46. Online Newspaper or Magazine Article: [5.9.4]
Author. “Title.” Magazine or Newspaper Day Month Year. Date of Access <URL>.
Example:
Kennedy, David M. “Crossing the Moral Threshold.” Time 1 Aug July 2005 < >.

47. Library Subscription Service (ProQuest, etc.): [5.9.7]
Magazine or Newspaper:
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Day Month Year: Page(s). Name of Database. Database Publisher. Library Name, Name of City and/or State. Date of Access <URL of service’s home page>.
Example:
Wallis, Claudia. “Crisis? I’ll Take Mine to Go.” Time 16 May 2005: 63. ProQuest. Kalamazoo Valley Community College Library, MI. 18 May 2005 <
Note that you use the URL of the database service because often the link for the actual article is too long and you must get to the artcle through the database anyway.

48. Library Subscription Service (ProQuest, etc.): [5.9.7] Journal:
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume number (Year): Page(s). Name of Database. Database Publisher. Library Name, Name of City and/or State. Date of Access <URL of service’s homepage>.
Example:
Youakim, Sami. “Work-related Asthma.” American Family Physician 64 (2001) Health Reference Center. InfoTrac. Kalamazoo Valley Community College Library, MI. 15 May 2005 <
The difference between a journal entry and a magazine or newspaper article is the addition of a volume number in a journal and you use only the year instead of the full date for a journal

49. Where can I go online for more help?
Purdue University Online Writing Lab Using MLA Format:
Bedford/St. Martin’s Guide to Online Citation:

50. Works Cited
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association Of America, 2003.
Lipson, Charles. Doing Honest Work in College. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 2004.

51. While MLA citation can be hard work, hopefully it all makes more sense now.