SECTION 6 FROM THE MLA HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS OF RESEARCH PAPERS, 7 T H

EDITION

Parenthetic Citations

Parenthetic Citations – Defined

Based on the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary;

Parenthetical is defined as: “enclosed in parenthesis” (1b 1641)

Citation is defined as: “the act of citing verbatim the spoken, written, or printed words of another” (2a 411)

Parenthetic Citation VS. Quotation

While both parenthetic citations and quotations follow the same basic procedure, they are not exactly the same concept.

Quotations are the exact (near exact) words used in a work .

Parenthetic Citations are use of the author’s idea or line-of-thought rather than their exact words.

It is important to note that if the information used within your text is not your original thought or common knowledge, you MUST use either form to document how you derived your thought pathway.

6.1 Parenthetical Documentation and the List of Works Cited

In order to be in compliance with MLA guidelines, the following items are needed to avoid plagiarism: A works cited page that is used to document all

sources used. The use of parenthetical citation that indicates the

specific information and its placement within the document from the work used.

The use of notes with parenthetical citations that allows the writer to provide more information (e.g., additional comments, explanations, etc.) and and/or additional bibliographical information.

6.2 Information Required In Parenthetical Documentation

1. The reference contained within the written text should refer to a precise source (e.g., author’s name. etc.) contained in the works cited list.

a) Based on the parenthetical citation used, the source used should not be ambiguous.

b) Distinction between similar author’s last name and/or multiple texts by the same author will be covered in the subsequent slides.

6.2 Information Required In Parenthetical Documentation

2. The location of the information referenced must be clearly and concisely identified.

a) Reference makers must include a page, paragraph, or volume number.

b) Works cited in their entirety, (e.g., radio, television programs, etc.) will usually be cited by their title only.

6.3 READABILITY

Because the use of parenthetic citations are necessary to support the writer’s premise, their use is necessary to avoid the “borrowing” of another author’s thought and/or research.

However, readability tends to suffer and a person’s work may read in an awkward fashion. Therefore, these references should be kept brief and concise and should be placed in “natural breaks” or pauses.

6.3 Readability of Parenthetic Citations (cont’d)

Typically those are found at the end of sentences, phrases, and/or clauses after the excised information has been utilized.

The placement of the original author’s name within the context of the reference sentence is an appropriate means to prevent the stilted nature of many research papers references.

The use of this technique will also aid in subsequent usage of the reference later in the paper.

6.4 Samples of & Using Parenthetical Citations

Based on the MLA Handbook, 7th edition, we will take a look at the following examples: 6.4.1 – Citing Entire

Works or Works Without Page Numbers

6.4.2 – Citing Parts of Works

6.4.3 – Citing Volume & Page Nos. of Multi-Volume Work

6.4.4 – Citing a Work Listed by Title

6.4.5 – Citing a Work by Corporate Author

6.4.6 – Citing Two or More Works by the Same Author(s)

6.4.7 – Citing indirect Sources

6.4.8 – Citing Common Literature

6.4.9 – Citing More Than One Work in a Single Parenthetical Reference

6.4.1 Citing an Entire Work, Including a Work with No Page Numbers

Use the following format for citing an entire work. This is used to cite information in general terms,

rather than specific information. Can be used for any sources (print & non-print),

particularly those that do not have page numbers or other location “markers”.

Best practice suggests that the author’s name be included in the written text rather than an actual parenthetic citation.

6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work

When using part of another’s work, please remember there are two conditions that must evaluated.

1. Is the author’s name included within the text.

2. Is the author’s name NOT included within the text.

It is suggested that every “first-use” reference include that author’s name within the text as it was done for 6.4.1.

6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work

Always be sure that the pages, sections, etc. are contained within a set of parenthesis at the end of the information before the period ending the sentence.

6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work – Author’s name within the text

Sources with pagination (page #) DO NOT use p. or pp.

Sources without pagination Paragraphs – used primarily for internet sources

(par. or pars. #) Sections – used from handbooks, etc.

(sec. or secs. #) Preface – from beginning of books or other works

(use Roman Numeral found on page) Appendices, table, figures, etc.

(see fig. #), (see table #), etc.

6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work – Author’s name within the text

Sources with pagination (Author’s Last Name page #) DO NOT use p. or pp. and no

comma!Sources without pagination

Paragraphs – used primarily for internet sources (Author’s Last Name par. or pars. #)

Sections – used from handbooks, etc. (Author’s Last Name sec. or secs. #)

Preface – from beginning of books or other works (Author’s Last Name use Roman Numeral found on page)

Appendices, table, figures, etc. (Author’s Last Name see fig. #), (Author’s Last Name see table

#), etc.

6.4.3 Citing Volume and Page Numbers of a Multivolume Work

Within the citation for the volume number, be sure to provide a page reference & separate the two (vol. no. & page no.) by a colon and space. Ex. 1 – (Finkelman 1: 338-355) When used at the end

of a passage. Ex. 2 – When used with author/editor referenced

within the context of the written passage use the following at the end of the sentence. (1: 338-355)

Be sure to NOT include the words “volume” & “page” or their abbreviations when using this form.

6.4.3 Citing Volume and Page Numbers of a Multivolume Work

When citing a volume in its entirety, use the author’s last name and volume no. Please see example and note the differences from previous slide! Ex. 1 – (Finkelman, vol. 1)

6.4.4 Citing a Work Listed by Title

As a general rule, parenthetic references cited within the context of a paper does allow for some abbreviations of the titles. However, problems can arise in the following areas:1. Improper title abbreviations that do not reflect an actual source

(e.g., using “Computer” as a title for The Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology.)

2. Similar citations for the same word/topic is cited and each must have quantitative qualities that distinguish each entry. (e.g., ENIAC – Encyc. Of Computer Science vs. ENIAC – Supercomputers)

A simple way to avoid confusion is to use the full title within the context of the paper to avoid any confusion of an abbreviation of the title.

6.4.5 Citing a Work by a Corporate Author

As with all longer citations, it is acceptable to use the full/corporate author within a parenthetic citations at the end of a sentence.

A better practice is to use the corporate author’s name within the context of the sentence to avoid a cumbersome “stop” at the end of the sentence.

This practice can ease the abbreviated name for further citations. (see 6.4.4)

6.4.6 Citing Two or More Works by the Same Author or Authors

When using this form of citation, place a comma after the author’s last name and add the title of each work (or an appropriate abbreviation after the first full use) with the relevant page number. Ex. – (Nardo Roman

Republic, 67-76) (Nardo Roman Empire,

42-43)

If the author and work are cited within the context of the paper, cite only the relevant page numbers. Ex. – In Nardo Roman

Republic …(67-76).

6.4.7 Citing Indirect Sources

Although the taking of materials excised from another's work is allowed, this practice is highly discouraged.

Use the following procedure if it is not possible to use an original source. Include the abbreviation “qtd. in” before the author’s

last name and page number. Ex. Emerson declared that poetry and the poet himself

“unlocks our chains, and admits us to a new scene” (qtd. in Kane, 359)

6.4.8 Citing Common Literature

Common literature is defined as the works that are frequently studied, and often these sources are drawn from multiple editions of the same work.

Typical examples of these sources include: Works of Shakespeare Various editions of the Bible or other scriptural texts Other common forms of literature

6.4.8 Citing Common Literature (cont’d)

In order to alleviate citation and access problems when a specific edition may or may not be readily found, use the following procedure to cite these types of works.

For commonly studied verse, plays, and poems:

Omit page numbers Cite by divisions &

Act, scene, book, part, etc. Cite by line

Use periods that separate the numbers used

Ex. 1 (Macbeth 4.1.120) Refers to Shakespeare’s

Macbeth Act 4, Scene 1, Line 120

6.4.8 Citing Common Literature

Do’s & Don’tsDO NOT use l. or ll. when citing lines only as

they may be confused with numerals. If one is citing only specific lines from a work, use the word line or lines in the first citation and numbers thereafter.

Unless specified by the instructor, DO use Arabic numbers for separating the divisions (acts, scenes) and page numbers.

6.4.8 Citing Common Literature

For citing scripture: Include an edition in the bibliographic citation and Be sure to include the title of the specific edition used

with the first parenthetic citation. Always name the book used, the chapter, and verse

rather than use any page numbers. Abbreviations of the chapter titles are acceptable.

Example: NIV Archaeological Study Bible, Ezra 7.1-10

6.4.9 Citing More Than One Work in a Single Parenthetical Reference

Because related information within a parenthetical citation may be excised from multiple sources, the write is allowed to use the following procedure:

Multiple source citations must be set apart by a semicolon.

Caution should be used with this method as a long parenthetic citation may be a distraction to the reader and its content.

Please see 6.5 on a better way to perform this procedure.

6.5 Using Notes With Parenthetical Documentation

According to the MLA Handbook 7th Edition (2009), there are only two (2) types of notes to be used within a paper.

1. Content Notes that provide the reader with:a) Comments,b) Explanation, orc) Information not found within the written text (e.g.,

further explanations and/or particular word meanings)2. Bibliographic Notes that contain multiple

sources (from 6.4.9) or to evaluate comments of the given source.

6.5.1 Content NotesUse this detail to provide a

means through which a writer may elaborate on a topic without distracting the reader by an indirect source or explanation as to why this secondary source was used. (230-231)

When using this device, be sure to use a superscript number to reference this note.

Then be sure that this note will appear at the bottom of the page with a 1 in. insert.

Example:

6.5.2 Bibliographic Notes

Use this note form as a means to evaluate multiple sources to limit reader distraction within the text of the paper.

The format will be the same as previously mentioned Superscripted number

and 1 in. inset.

Example:

Works Cited

Finkelman, Paul, ed. "George Washington's Farewell Address." Milestone

Documents in American History. Vol. 1. Dallas: Schlager Group, 2008. 338-55.

3 vols. Print.

Kane, Paul. "Ralph Waldo Emerson." Vol. 1. World Poets. Ed. Jeffrey H. Chen,

Timothy J. DeWerff, John Fitzpatrick, Deborah Gershenowitz, and Stephan

Wagley. New York: Charles Scribner's, 2000. 3 vols. 359-67. Print.

Nardo, Don. The Roman Empire. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1994. Print.

Nardo, Don. The Roman Republic. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1994. Print.

NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. Print.