1. Purdue University Writing Lab Cross-referencing: Using MLA Format A workshop brought to you by the Purdue University Writing Lab

2. What is Plagiarism? Defined by the Council of Writing Program Administrators: In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. Purdue University Writing Lab http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9

3. What is MLA? MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. Purdue University Writing Lab

4. Why Use MLA Format? Allows readers to cross-reference your sources easily Provides consistent format within a discipline Gives you credibility as a writer Protects yourself from plagiarism

5. When Do We Give Credit? Purdue University Writing Lab Words or ideas presented in a magazine, book, newspaper, song, TV program, movie, Web page, computer program, letter, advertisement, or any other medium Information you gain through interviewing or conversing with another person, face to face, over the phone, or in writing

6. Purdue University Writing Lab When you copy the exact words or a unique phrase When you reprint any diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, or other visual materials When you reuse or repost any electronically- available media, including images, audio, video, or other media When Do We Give Credit?

7. When Citation is not Needed Purdue University Writing Lab Writing your own lived experiences, your own observations and insights, your own thoughts, and your own conclusions about a subject When you are writing up your own results obtained through lab or field experiments When you use your own artwork, digital photographs, video, audio, etc.

8. When Citation is not Needed Purdue University Writing Lab When you are using "common knowledge," things like folklore, common sense observations, myths, urban legends, and historical events (but not historical documents) When you are using generally-accepted facts, e.g., pollution is bad for the environment, including facts that are accepted within particular discourse communities, e.g., in the field of composition studies, "writing is a process" is a generally-accepted fact.

9. Deciding if Something is "Common Knowledge" Purdue University Writing Lab Generally speaking, you can regard something as common knowledge if you find the same information undocumented in at least five credible sources. Additionally, it might be common knowledge if you think the information you're presenting is something your readers will already know, or something that a person could easily find in general reference sources. But when in doubt, cite; if the citation turns out to be unnecessary, your teacher or editor will tell you.

10. Sample Paper Using MLA Format Purdue University Writing Lab Type and print you’re paper on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper Double-spaced format Times Roman or Arial 12 pt. font Margins set to 1 inch on all sides. Indent the first line of a paragraph (five spaces or press tab once) from the left margin. Header at the top right with the page number and last name Upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Title the paper (should be centered)

11. Purdue University Writing Lab Cross-Referencing Your Sources Cross-referencing allows readers to locate the publication information of source material. This is of great value for researchers who may want to locate your sources for their own research projects.

12. Purdue University Writing Lab Using a Consistent Format Using a consistent format helps your reader understand your arguments and the sources they’re built on. It also helps you keep track of your sources as you build arguments.

13. Purdue University Writing Lab Establishing Credibility The proper use of MLA style shows the credibility of writers; such writers show accountability to their source material.

14. Purdue University Writing Lab Avoiding Plagiarism Proper citation of your sources in MLA style can help you avoid plagiarism, which is a serious offense. It may result in anything from failure of the assignment to expulsion from school.

15. Purdue University Writing Lab Where Do I Find MLA Format? MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. OWL website: owl.english.purdue.edu http://www.davidsonccc. edu/lrc/howdoi.htm

16. Purdue University Writing Lab MLA Style: Two Parts Works Cited Page In-Text Citations

17. Purdue University Writing Lab Works Cited Page A complete list of every source that you make reference to in your essay Provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any sources cited in your essay.

18. Purdue University Writing Lab A Sample Works Cited Page Smith 12 Works Cited Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1985. Miller, J. Hillis. Charles Dickens: The World and His Novels. Bloomington: U of Indiana P, 1958. Zwerdling, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 88 (May 1973): 429-439.

19. Purdue University Writing Lab Most citations should contain the following basic information: Author’s name Title of work Publication information Works Cited

20. Works Cited Examples See MLA Review Sheet

21. Purdue University Writing Lab Study the basics of MLA citation format. When something odd comes up, look it up. Every Paper is Different

22. Purdue University Writing Lab When Should You Use In-Text Citations? When quoting any words that are not your own  Quoting means to repeat another source word for word, using quotation marks

23. Purdue University Writing Lab When Should You In-Text Citations? When summarizing facts and ideas from a source  Summarizing means to take ideas from a large passage of another source and condense them, using your own words When paraphrasing a source  Paraphrasing means to use the ideas from another source but change the phrasing into your own words

24. Purdue University Writing Lab Keys to In-Text Citations Readability Keep references brief Give only information needed to identify the source on your Works Cited page Do not repeat unnecessary information

25. Purdue University Writing Lab Handling Quotes in Your Text Author’s last name and page number(s) of quote must appear in the text Early exposure to computer games does lead to better small motor skill development in a child's second and third year (Lightenor 17). “ Computers are useful tools for small children” (17).

26. Purdue University Writing Lab Handling In-Text Citations If the source has no known author, then use an abbreviated version of the title: Full Title: “California Cigarette Tax Deters Smokers” Citation: (“California” A14) If the source is only one page in length or is a web page with no apparent page number: Source: Dave Poland’s “Hot Button” web column Citation: (Poland) Note: Web addresses should not be listed within the body of the paper, only on the works cited page

27. Direct Quotes According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree. According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184). Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)? Purdue University Writing Lab

28. Handling Long Quotations David becomes identified and defined by James Steerforth, a young man with whom David is acquainted from his days at Salem House. Before meeting Steerforth, David accepts Steerforth’s name as an authoritative power: There was an old door in this playground, on which the boys had a custom of carving their names.... In my dread of the end of the vacation and their coming back, I could not read a boy’s name, without inquiring in what tone and with what emphasis he would read, “Take care of him. He bites.” There was one boy—a certain J. Steerforth—who cut his name very deep and very often, who I conceived, would read it in a rather strong voice, and afterwards pull my hair. (Dickens 68) For Steerforth, naming becomes an act of possession, as well as exploitation. Steerforth names David for his fresh look and innocence, but also uses the name Daisy to exploit David's romantic tendencies (Dyson 122).

29. Paraphrasing Should be Cited In-Text For Steerforth, naming becomes an act of possession, as well as exploitation. Steerforth names David for his fresh look and innocence, but also uses the name Daisy to exploit David's romantic tendencies (Dyson 122). Purdue University Writing Lab

30. Omitting/Adding Words Adding a word or words in a quotation  Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: "some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale" (78). Omitting a word or words from a quotation  In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that "some individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale... and in a short time a lively exchange of details occurs" (78). Purdue University Writing Lab

31. There are many different combinations and variations within MLA citation format. If you run into something unusual, look it up! Handling Quotes in Your Text