1. Creating a Bibliography Using MLA Documentation

2. What is a bibliography?
A list of resources that were used in creating a research paper or other document
A method of giving credit to the people from whom information was taken.
A resource you can use to get information about the topic in the future.

3. Why are bibliographies created the way they are?
An organization called the Modern Language Association (MLA) creates the standards for bibliographies and updates them regularly (every few years).
Bibliography format is standardized to make them easier to use.

4. How do I create a bibliography?
A bibliography entry depends on the TYPE of resource you used.
The format is slightly different for a book, a magazine, a website, an interview, a video, etc.

5. Documenting a BOOK
As you research, collect this information for each book used:
The complete title, including the subtitle
The author’s complete name (or names, if more than one)
The PLACE of publication (city)
The publishing company’s name
The year the book was published.

6. Documenting a BOOK, part 2
For your bibliography, each entry will be organized alphabetically by the author’s last name.
If there is more than one author, use the name that comes first on the book’s title page.
Information is recording in this order: author’s last name, first name, title of book, city of publication, publisher, year of publication.
SEE EXAMPLE, next slide.

7. Documenting a BOOK: Example 1—One Author
Bibliography
Belben, Cathy. How to Create a Bibliography.
Burlington: Tiger Publishing Co., 1998.
NOTE: All indentations, punctuation, and capitalization must be followed as shown here.

8. Documenting a BOOK: Example 1a: A book with an editor
A book with an editor (or editors) is documented as if the editor(s) were the author(s).
The only difference: the abbreviated (ed.) in parentheses is included after the editor’s name.
Example: Belben, Cathy, (ed). The Life and Times of Kosha. Bellingham: Good Dog Books, 2002.

9. Documenting a BOOK: Example 2-More than one author.
Lowin, Colin, Cathy Belben, and Kosha Perro. Cleaning Your House from the Inside Out. Bellingham: Rainy Day Books, 2001.
NOTE: When there is more than one author listed, alphabetize the book in your bibliography according to the author whose name appears first on the book’s title page.

10. Documenting a BOOK: Author Unknown
When the author of a book is unknown, everything in the bibliographic entry is the SAME, except the author is unlisted.
The entry is then included in the bibliography in alphabetical order according to the first word in the book’s title.
See EXAMPLE 3—next slide

11. Documenting a BOOK: Example 3—Author Unknown
How to Create Award-Winning PowerPoint Presentations. Burlington: Happy Camper Publications, 2002.

12. Documenting a MAGAZINE
In a bibliography, magazines are included in the SAME list as books.
Magazines are also listed alphabetically by the author’s last name.
The TITLE of the ARTICLE is placed in quotations.
The TITLE of the MAGAZINE is italicized or underlined.

13. Documenting a MAGAZINE: Example 1
Tyson, Mike. “How to Fight With Your Teeth.” Abominable Boxer Magazine. 23 November 1996: 2-14.
NOTE: The arrangement of the DATE.
The numbers given at the end refer to the pages of the article.

14. Documenting a MAGAZINE: Example 2: Magazine Article from ProQuest Direct.
Pitt, Brad. “My Beautiful Wife.” People 2 February ProQuest Direct. Online. 6 February 2002.
NOTE: The FIRST DATE refers to the article publication date. The SECOND date refers to the date you accessed the article online.

15. Documenting a NEWSPAPER article
Newspaper articles are documented just like magazine articles.
The only difference: after the date, the page and section numbers are given.
EXAMPLE:
Powers, Jay. “Wearing Shorts in Winter.” Burlington Argus. 23 January 2002: 17B

16. Documenting a NEWSPAPER accessed using PROQUEST
Document a newspaper article accessed via ProQuest as follows:
Bradbury, Jennifer. “Kentucky Bluegrass
Makes Me Smile.” Burlington Argus. 5
April ProQuest Direct. Online.
1 March 2002.

17. Documenting a WEB SITE
The MLA provides complete guidelines for documenting web sites at
Go to the section entitled “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) to get the information.
Basic instructions are on the next slide, and an example is on the slide after that.

18. Documenting a WEB SITE: Instructions
You need this information:
Title of web page
Name of author or editor, if given
Electronic publication information, including date of publication or latest update, and the sponsoring institution or organization, if given.
Date of access and the network address (the URL).

19. Documenting a WEB SITE: Example
Belben, Bartholomew. False Reports: False internet report about bananas. 23 May Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta. 7 February <