What do you Mean I Have to Cite my

Sources? A Guide to MLA Format & Style

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What is MLA?O MLA (Modern Language Association)

style specifies guidelines for formatting documents and using the English language in writing. MLA style also provides writers with a system for referencing sources though parenthetical, or in-text citations, in his or her writing, as well as in the Work Cited page.

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Guide to MLA Format & Style

OMLA FormattingOParenthetical Citations or In-Text Citations

OWorks Cited Page

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General Formatting Guidelines

O Type on white 8.5“ x 11“ paper

O Double-space everything

O Use 12 pt. Times New Roman font (or similar font)

O Leave only one space after punctuation

O Set all margins to 1 inch on all sides

O Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch

O Header with page numbers in the upper right corner

O Use italics for titles

O Endnotes go on a separate page before your Works Cited

page

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MLA Format Example

Header

Heading

Title

1”

1”

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Margins and SpacingO All margins should be set to 1”

1. Select Page Layout2. Select Margins3. Select Normal Setting (top, bottom, right & left

margins set to 1”)O Double space the entire document

1. Select Paragraph2. Select Line Spacing3. Select Double4. Make sure that Spacing for both Before & After

are set at 0pt. (these boxes are located right underneath the line spacing box)

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HeaderO Insert a header with your last name and the

page number1. Select Insert2. Select Page Number3. Select Top of Page4. Select the option the right justifies the page

number (Plain Number 3)5. Move cursor to the left of the page number 6. Type your last name only7. Insert one space between your name and the

page number8. Click out of the header areaNorris- 2013

HeadingO Create the heading (the heading goes on

your first page only)1. Type your full name2. Type your teacher’s name3. Type the name of the class – no abbreviations!4. Type the date in MLA Style (smallest to

largest)Day Month Year (30 October 2013)

*Make sure your heading is double spaced, too.

*Do not create a title page unless specifically instructed to do so by your teacher.

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Title and TextO Create a title

1. Select Home2. Select Center Justification 3. Capitalize all important words (and first and

last)4. DO NOT: Underline, Italicize, Boldface5. Make the title clever but indicative of your

subject and direction your paper will take

O Tap enter and start typing your text – NO extra spaces!

O Save your document frequently to a place you can easily find it (your h-drive is the best option).

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What are Citations?O In MLA style, referring to the works

of others in your text is done by using what is known as parenthetical citation, or an in-text citation. This method involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase.

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Why do we Need to Include Quotes & Paraphrases in our Writing?

O To provide specific detail or evidence to support opinions

O To include facts to illustrate or prove a point

O To emphasize a point

O To add credibility by including the opinions of experts.

O It’s required!!!Norris- 2013

Why do we Need to Include Citations in our Writing?

O Protects yourself from plagiarismO Allows readers to cross-reference your sources

easilyO Gives you credibility as a writerO It’s required!!!O The correct documentation of your sources is

serious business!O If you plagiarize, even inadvertently, you may

flunk your class, be expelled from collegeO Plagiarism in your professional career can

result in being sued, fired, and publicly embarrassed

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When Should You Include Parenthetical or In-Text Citations?

O When quoting any words that are not your own (quoting means to another source word for word, suing quotation marks)

O BTW, simply changing a word or two in a quotation does not make it your words.

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When Should You Include Parenthetical or In-Text Citations?

O When summarizing facts or ideas from a source. Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s).

O When paraphrasing facts or ideas from a source. Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words.

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CAUTION!O Don’t fall into the trap of

paraphrasing. If the idea or information was not generated in your own mind, then you must cite the source it came from!

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What Does a Parenthetical or In-Text Citation Look Like?O Romantic poetry is characterized by

the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

O Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

O Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

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Parenthetical or In-Text Citations

Typical in-text citation:

Citation with source author mentioned in text:

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Parenthetical or In-Text Citations

Consecutive citations from the same source:

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Parenthetical or In-Text Citations

O More than one author with the same last name(W. Wordsworth 23) (D. Wordsworth 224)

O More than one work by the same author (Joyce, Portrait 121) (Joyce, Ulysses 556)

O Different volumes of a multi-volume work(Jones 1: 336)

O Citing indirect sources (Johnson qtd. in Boswell 450)

Sometimes more information is necessary.

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Parenthetical or In-Text Citations

Other problems:O If the source has no known author, then use an

abbreviated version of the title:-Full Title: “California Cigarette Tax Deters Smokers”-In-text Citation: (“California ” A14)

O If the source is only one page in length or is a web page with no apparent pagination:

-Source: Dave Poland’s “Hot Button” web column -In-text Citation: (Poland)

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To Quote or to Paraphrase

O It’s important to make sure that you have a healthy balance of quotes and paraphrases, combined with your own thoughts and ideas in your writing. You can’t have a paper full of nothing but quotes. Remember, the quotes, paraphrases and summaries are necessary to support your own ideas and thought.

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When To Use Quotations

O Later ReferenceO Memorable LanguageO AuthorityO AccuracyO Brevity

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When To Use Quotations

O Choose your quotations carefully and for specific reasons. O Use quotations to support your argumentO A short phrase or sentence is more easily

understood than a long quotationO Look for the "kernel" or the most

important part of the quotation and extract it O Paraphrase a quotation in your own

words when possible

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Long Quotations

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Parenthetical or In-Text Citations

O There are many different combinations and variations of how to format your citations within MLA citation format.

O If you run into something unusual, look it up! There’s always an answer.

O The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue is a great MLA resource: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

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Works Cited Page

O According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text. You MUST include complete source information in your Work Cited page for each source you cite in your writing.

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Works Cited Page MLA Format

O Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. It should have the same one-inch margins and last name, page number header as the rest of your paper.

O Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.

O Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.

O Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.

O Entries are ALWAYS listed alphabetically. If you are using a title instead of an author in your citation, do not consider the articles a, an, and or the if they are at the beginning of the title.

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How to Create a Hanging Indentation:

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O Once you have all your sources copied onto your Work Cited page, highlight the entire contents of your Work Cited Page.

O Select Page Layout.O Select Paragraph.O Locate the box labeled Special in the

Indentation section and choose Hanging.

O Make sure the Line Spacing option is set to Double and that the Spacing boxes (Before & After) are set to 0 pt. You need to make sure your entire paper is double-spaced with the Before & After settings at 0 pt.

Sample Works Cited Page

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Works Cited Page: Books

Basic Format:

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication:

Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Examples:

Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York:

Penguin, 1987. Print.

Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to

Peer Tutoring. Boston: Allyn, 2000. Print.

Palmer, William J. Dickens and New Historicism. New York: St.

Martin's, 1997. Print.

The Films of the Eighties: A Social History. Carbondale:

Southern Illinois UP, 1993. Print.

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Works Cited Page: Periodicals

Article in a Magazine Format:

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical Day Month Year:

pages. Medium of publication.

Example:

Buchman, Dana. “A Special Education.” Good Housekeeping

Mar. 2006: 143-8. Print.

Article in Scholarly Journal Format:

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year):

pages. Medium of publication.

Example:

Duvall, John N. “The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television

as Unmediated Mediation in DeLillo's White Noise.” Arizona

Quarterly 50.3 (1994): 127- 53. Print.

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Works Cited Page: Web

Web Source Format:

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available).

“Article Name.” Name of Site. Version number. Name

of institution/organization affiliated with the site

(sponsor or publisher). Date of last update. Medium of

publication. Date of access.Norris- 2013

Works Cited Page: Web Cont.

Examples:

Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” A List

Apart: For People Who Make Websites. A List Apart Mag., 16 Aug.

2002. Web. 4 May 2009.

Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U,

28 Nov. 2003. Web. 10 May 2006.

“How to Make Vegetarian Chili.” eHow.com. eHow. n.d. Web. 24 Feb.

2009.

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Works Cited Page: Other

Personal Interview Example:Purdue, Pete. Personal interview. 1 Dec. 2000.

Speech Example:Stein, Bob. Computers and Writing

Conference. Purdue University. Union

Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. 23

May 2003. Keynote address.

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Works Cited Page: Other

Film Example:

The Usual Suspects. Dir. Bryan Singer. Perf. Kevin

Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen

Baldwin, and Benecio del Toro. Polygram, 1995.

Film.

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Citation MachineO http://

citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1&newstyle=1&stylebox=1

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Work Cited PageO There are many rules on what information

to include in your Work Cited citations depending on the medium your using. Make sure you always look up the rules for the types of sources you’re using!

O The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue is a great MLA resource: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

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Sample MLA PaperO https://

owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20091250615234_747.pdf

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Work Cited Page

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, 13 10 2009. Web. 23 Oct 2013.

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