In-Text Citations MLA Format
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Transcript of In-Text Citations MLA Format
In-Text Citations MLA Format
And why Theyre Important (also conclusions because I couldnt think
of a better title so there) What is an In-Text Citation?
An in-text citation lets the reader know where you pulled the
information you are basing your argument on. It gives your argument
authority, by backing it up with expert opinion and/or textual
evidence. It also lets the reader know where to read more about
something if they are interested. Chipotle has been described as
the most important human achievement since the Snuggie (Lincoln
125). An in-text citation must ALWAYS follow a direct quote from a
source, and paraphrasing as well (for example, describing the
events in a TV show episode). An in-text citation usually fits the
template below (Authors last name, page number) 3 Methods of
Citation Your in-text citation can usually be written in one of the
three ways below. There are fancier exceptions, but stick with
these three variations for now. Chipotle has been described as the
most important human achievement since the Snuggie (Lincoln 125).
Abraham Lincoln has described Chipotle as the most important human
achievement since the Snuggie (125). Abraham Lincoln considered
Chipotle a pinnacle of human ingenuity, and often relied on it to
refuel between his vampire hunting adventures and afternoon tea
sessions with John Cena (125). Notice that whether you directly
quote or paraphrase, the page number is ALWAYS included in the
in-text citation. If you do not explicitly state in your sentence
who authored the quote, then you must include the authors last name
in the in-text citation, as in citation 1. Citing Non-Print
Sources
Many of you will be using non-print sources for your papers, and
thats excellent. I encourage you to use a variety of sources in
your research. As long as you have the source cited correctly in
MLA format in your Works Cited paper, there is no strict format
regarding in-text citations of non-print or non-written works. Here
are some suggestions below. Film: Include the title of the movie.
Marvels modern Thor is much more heroic, in contrast to the ancient
Norse God, and is very much concerned with justice and saving
civilians (Avengers: Age of Ultron). Or The film Avengers: Age of
Ultron depicts a much more heroic, selfless Thor than the myths of
ancient Norse culture did. TV Series: Include the title of the
television series, episode number, and season. The Green Arrow
continues the tradition of Robin Hood, watching out for the
underdog, though his motivations for doing so are entirely
different (Arrow, Episode 3, Season 1). Website: If you can find
the author of what you are citing, cite it like you would a print
source. If not, include the article name or website name. You do
not need to write out the entire URL. Aphrodite was worshipped by
women not just hoping to be beautiful, but gain some
independenceAnd take control of their physical appearance
(ancientgreece.com) In-Text Citations Now, in your essay outlines,
look at your sources. They should be cited in correct MLA format.
If not, this is a problem, and you must rectify it as soon as
possible. Write an example of an in-text citation so you can have
it for future reference. When you write your papers, you can simply
plug in this in-text citation when you quote a source. You must
have at least three in-text citations in the final draft of your
paper. Do not cite the same source repeatedly; use each of your
sources at least once. To Cite or Not to Cite? To Cite When quoting
a source.
When paraphrasing a source. When introducing a source for the first
time. To not Cite When discussing common knowledge (e.g. Greece is
part of the Mediterranean). When you have recently cited the source
you are discussing. Conclusion Conclusions are simple. Many people
overthink them. An effective conclusion synthesizes (not
summarizes) the ideas in your paper, answers the So What question,
and brings your paper to a close. Here are some simple dos and
donts. Conclusion Dos Return to your thesis. You dont need to
rewrite it word for word (you shouldnt), but touch on the ideas
again. Show the reader how all of your supporting arguments tie
together to prove your thesis. Return to the themes from the
beginning of your paper, maybe answering a question you asked or
examining an example you used in a hook with the newfound
information from your body paragraphs. Answer the So What question.
Make it very obvious to the paper why your thesis matters. How does
proving your thesis correct change their understanding of your
topic? Conclusion Donts Start with a transition like, In
conclusion, or In summary. These work well for speeches, but come
across as somewhat ham-fisted in writing. Try to transition as
naturally to the ending of your paper as possible. Restate your
thesis word-for-word. The reader has already read this! You dont
need to copy and paste the ideas they already know. Instead,
demonstrate how they all come together. Introduce a new idea or
piece of evidence. Your body paragraphs should contain everything
you are using to argue for your thesis; your conclusion paragraph
just ties it all together. DO NOT EVER EVER EVER EVER WRITE
ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF Thats how Thor and Marvel Thor are
different. Of course I know this, I JUST READ AN ENTIRE PAPER
EXPLAINING HOW THEY ARE. This is the same issue as writing I think,
or I believe I already know this! Dont waste time and space writing
this.