USING MLA STYLE: GENERAL AND WORKS CITED FORMATTING GUIDELINES

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What is MLA Style?

Created by the Modern Language Association

Provides writers with credibility Protects writers from accusations of

plagiarism Allows writers to cross-reference

sources Allows readers to easily locate source

material

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Basic format In-text citations Works Cited page

Basic Format

White, 8 1/2 x 11 paper One inch margins all around 12 point font, Times New Roman Double spaced Use a running header to number pages

in top right hand corner, include your last name; i.e., Smith 1.

What should I cite?

“Unique words or phrases” - use sparingly

Paraphrases or ideas Email, interviews, charts, diagrams

Quotes

“Quotation” (Author page number).

Kwon points out that the Fourth Amendment does not give employees any protections from employers’ “unreasonable searches and seizures” (6).

Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Sixth Edition

Paraphrases, summaries

Source + signal phrase + page number(s)

In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, the rejection of Linder’s offer permits Walter’s family to pursue the new life they dreamed about (274-275).

Signal Phrases

acknowledges admits agrees argues claims contends denies

disputes emphasizes insists notes observes suggests writes

Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Fourth Edition

Creating Works Cited

Separate page, end of paper Include every work referenced in your

paper Label it Works Cited (centered) Double space all entries Alphabetized by last name – don’t

reorder names!

Citing a book

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium.

Wood, James. How Fiction Works. New York: Farrar, 2008. Print.

Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Sixth Edition

Article from a database

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title volume, issue (year): pages(s). Database name. Medium. Date of access.

Heyen, William. “Sunlight.” American Poetry Review 36.2 (2007): 55-56. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Sixth Edition

Medium

PrintWebTelevisionCDFilm

DVDPhotographPerformanceLectureMP3 file

Want More Info?

Purdue University’s OWL Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual,

Sixth Ed. Class LibGuide Learning Center – tutors and academic

coach

Good luck on your paper!