USING MLA STYLE: GENERAL 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

1” inch margins all around 12 point font, Times New Roman or Arial Double spaced Identification in upper left corner of first

page Use a running header to number pages

in top right hand corner, include your last name Hartzel 2

What should I cite?

Paraphrases and summaries “Unique words or phrases”

no direct quotes for this assignment, please!

Paraphrases, summaries

Elements:

Author + signal phrase + summary (page number).

-or-

Signal phrase + Author + summary (page number).

Paraphrases, summaries

With an author – Right!In Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass

Castle, the author depicts a childhood filled with dysfunction and chaos.

With an author – Wrong!In Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass

Castle, the author depicts a childhood filled with dysfunction and chaos (Walls).

Paraphrases, summaries

No author – Right!“Children of Alcoholics” examines the

developmental and psychological effects that children experience (24-25).

No author – Wrong!“Children of Alcoholics” examines the

developmental and psychological effects that children experience (“Children” 24-25).

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

Quotes

Elements:Signal phrase + Author + “quotation” + (page number) + your own words.

One of McNair’s grading criteria includes, “title and author stated in first sentence,” (1) which will be examined in a later slide.

Note: please don’t use direct quotes in this assignment

Creating Works Cited

Separate page, end of paper Include both works referenced in your

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

reorder names! No author? Alphabetize by title of article

Citing a Book

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

Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.

Popular Magazine - online

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access.

Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.” Parenting. 1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Article from an Academic JournalLast Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”

Journal Title volume.issue (year): pages. Database Name. Medium. Date of access.

“Children of Alcoholics.” International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. (2003). Credo Reference. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Newspaper Article - online

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access.

Sullivan Jr., Bishop. "Why Can't We Declare a War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Works Cited

“Children of Alcoholics.” International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. (2003). Credo Reference. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.” Parenting. 1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Sullivan Jr., Bishop, et al. "Why Can't We Declare a War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.

Want More Info?

Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual, Sixth Ed.

Class LibGuide MLA Citation Website Learning Center – tutors and academic

coach