Parenthetical Citations

using the

MLA Format

Parenthetical Citations in MLA What are parenthetical citations?

Material borrowed from another source is documented within the text by a brief parenthetical reference that directs

readers to the full citation in the list of Works Cited.

Why use parenthetical citations?

Rather than try to reword someone else’s words in your paper, which can be

painstaking, difficult, and you usually end up plagiarizing anyway, try “borrowing” material and legitimately cite it in your

paper.

*This allows people to know which sources you used in writing your

essay and then be able to look them up themselves, so that

they can use them in their research.

In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done in two ways. When you make reference to someone else's idea, either through paraphrasing or quoting them directly, you:

+provide the author's name (or the title of the work) and the page(or paragraph) number of the work in a parenthetical citation, then...

+provide full citation information for the work in your Works Cited list

Parenthetical Citations in MLA

How Do I Do Parenthetical Citations?

MLA format follows the author-page method of citation.

This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear in your Works Cited list.

The author's name...

may appear in one of two places:

1) in the sentence itself or

2) in parentheses following the

quotation or paraphrase

The page number(s)…

should always appear in the parentheses

following the quotation, summary, or

paraphrase, not in the text of your

sentence.

Parenthetical Citations … Some Examples

Example #1 - Author’s name in text, Page at endExample #1 - Author’s name in text, Page at end

In John Malam’s book, In John Malam’s book, The Bombing of Hiroshima, The Bombing of Hiroshima, he he quotes Robert Oppenheimer’s statements following the quotes Robert Oppenheimer’s statements following the explosion:explosion:

“ “We waited until the blast had passed, We waited until the blast had passed,

walked out of the shelter and thenwalked out of the shelter and then

it was extremely solemn. We knewit was extremely solemn. We knew

the world would not be the same” (15). the world would not be the same” (15).

Indenting Indenting does not does not

need to be need to be done, but done, but

can be can be used to used to make a make a quote quote more more

noticeable.noticeable.

ParticularlParticularly when the y when the

quote is quote is longer longer

than a few than a few sentencessentences..

Option to Example #1 - No title mentioned, information Option to Example #1 - No title mentioned, information not quoted, author’s name and pages given at the endnot quoted, author’s name and pages given at the end (This is very useful if you are not quoting, but (This is very useful if you are not quoting, but summarizing or paraphrasing instead.)summarizing or paraphrasing instead.)

Robert Oppenheimer described the world after the blast as Robert Oppenheimer described the world after the blast as extremely solemn (Malam 15).extremely solemn (Malam 15).

3 Ways to “Borrow” 3 Ways to “Borrow” InformationInformation

QuotingQuoting- easiest way, but use selectively - easiest way, but use selectively and quote only the passages that deal and quote only the passages that deal

directly with your subject in memorable directly with your subject in memorable language. If you decide to omit part of language. If you decide to omit part of the passage, use ellipsis points (…) to the passage, use ellipsis points (…) to

indicate omitted words from the original indicate omitted words from the original source (Trimmer 22).source (Trimmer 22).

ParaphrasingParaphrasing- restates the content of a - restates the content of a short passage phrase by phrase, short passage phrase by phrase,

recasting the author’s words in your own recasting the author’s words in your own (Trimmer 24). (Trimmer 24).

SummarizingSummarizing-condenses the content of a -condenses the content of a lengthy passage, reformulate the main lengthy passage, reformulate the main idea and outline main points (Trimmer idea and outline main points (Trimmer

24). 24).

QuotingQuoting(Author in text, page at end)(Author in text, page at end)

John Malam, in his book John Malam, in his book The Bombing of The Bombing of HiroshimaHiroshima, recounts statements of Albert , recounts statements of Albert

Einstein, whose letter encouraged the U.S. to Einstein, whose letter encouraged the U.S. to build the atomic bomb. He said: “I could burn build the atomic bomb. He said: “I could burn

my fingers that I wrote that first letter to my fingers that I wrote that first letter to Roosevelt” (27).Roosevelt” (27).

OROR

(Author and page at end)(Author and page at end)

Albert Einstein’s response after the bombing of Albert Einstein’s response after the bombing of Hiroshima is telling of the horrific aftermath Hiroshima is telling of the horrific aftermath

and his guilt resulting from the event. In and his guilt resulting from the event. In reflecting on a letter he had once written to reflecting on a letter he had once written to President Roosevelt regarding uranium, he President Roosevelt regarding uranium, he

said, I could “burn my fingers” for ever writing said, I could “burn my fingers” for ever writing itit (Malam 27).(Malam 27).

A Comparison of Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing

the same information in the following 3 examples.

QuotingQuoting(Author, Page at the end of the quote)(Author, Page at the end of the quote)

President Truman was pleased that the President Truman was pleased that the testing of the atomic bomb had gone testing of the atomic bomb had gone so well. In his opinion, “the atomic so well. In his opinion, “the atomic bomb could be used to bring the war in bomb could be used to bring the war in the Pacific to a quick end and, the Pacific to a quick end and, therefore, save American lives” therefore, save American lives” (Malam 18).(Malam 18).

SummarizingSummarizing(Author, Page at the end of the (Author, Page at the end of the

summary)summary)

Though a tough political situation, Though a tough political situation, President Truman thought it would be President Truman thought it would be best to use the atomic bomb to bring best to use the atomic bomb to bring the war in the Pacific to an end (Malam the war in the Pacific to an end (Malam 18).18). Paraphrasing

(Author, Page at the end of the paraphrase)

President Truman was pleased that the testing of the atomic bomb had gone so well; he felt the use of the bomb could bring the war in the Pacific to an end, saving countless American lives (Malam 18).

DON’T FORGET…DON’T FORGET…

Plagiarism is a serious Plagiarism is a serious offense that strips offense that strips

individuals of their personal individuals of their personal accomplishments. It is accomplishments. It is

basically “stealing” from basically “stealing” from someone, so instead try someone, so instead try “borrowing” and saying “borrowing” and saying

“thank you” by citing your “thank you” by citing your sources using MLA.sources using MLA.

Good Luck with your Good Luck with your research!research!