Modern Language Association

Style Guide For Writers of

Research Papers

Created by: J.F.Good Elmwood Franklin

SchoolFall 2005

TopicsResearch Evaluating SourcesPlagiarismHow to cite each type of

sourceParenthetical CitationsThe BibliographyQuestions?

Research •Your sources should include:Books and EncyclopediasPeriodicals (magazines)

NewspapersScholarly Journals

Sound (CD) and Video(VHS/DVD) Recordings

Personal interviewsDatabases

Electronic (Internet) sources/graphics

Evaluating

Sources

When evaluating all of your sources ask yourself if it reflects:

• Authority• Accuracy• Currency

What are the author’s credentials? Is the information presented logically and

without bias? Are the author’s sources adequately

indicated so that they can be verified? Is the source current or outdated? Who is the publisher or sponsoring

organization of the work? Has the information been peer reviewed?

PlagiarismPlagiarism“…the false assumption of authorship: the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind, and presenting it as one’s own…: Alexander Lindey

To prevent plagiarism you must:Document everything that you borrow including:Direct quotationsParaphrasesGeneral informationFacts and ideasImages and graphics

A Working Bibliography or Works Cited List

Record ALL of the sources that you use in a separate document entitled Bibliography - even if you only glanced at them!

BOOK SOURCE1. Author’s last name, first name.2. Full title of book. Underlined.

3. Edition of book.4. Number of the volume and total number of volumes in the series for

encyclopedias.5. City of publication.6. Publisher’s name.

7. Date of publication.

Frome, Keith. What Not To Expect: A Meditation on the Spirituality of Parenting. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.

Magazine or Newspaper Source

1. Author’s last name, first name2. Title of the article in quotation marks3. Title of the magazine or newspaper

4. Date of publication5. Inclusive page numbers of article

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Be A Person of Character.” The Buffalo News,

September 30, 2005. p. A2.

Journal SourceJournal Source1. Author’s last name, first name

2. Title of article in quotation marks3. Title of journal underlined

4. Volume number5. Year of publication

6. Inclusive page numbers of the article

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol.

23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.

1. Author’s last name, first name 2. Title of article in quotation marks

3. Title of journal underlined4. Volume number

5. Year of publication6. Inclusive page numbers of the article

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol.

23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.

Sound and Video Sources

•Author’s last name, first name•Title of program underlined•Radio/television station call letters•Date of presentation•Website address if applicable

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” 60Minutes. Narr: Ed Bradley, CBS. October 23, 2005http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/

Interview SourceThere are three types of interviews:

Published or recorded on CD, cassette tape or videocassette

Broadcast on radio, television or online Personal interview conducted by researcher

Must include: Name of person being interviewedTitle of interview in quotation marksName of interviewerPlace of interviewDate of interviewFrome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” Interview with Katie

Couric. New York: The Today Show. MSNBC. October 21, 2005Frome, Dr. Keith W. Personal Interview. Buffalo, New York. October

14, 2005.

Internet Website Source

1. Author’s last name, first name2. Title of the document in quotation marks3. Title of scholarly project or database4. Name of editor5. Date of electronic publication or last update6. Name of the institution or organization sponsoring

the website7. Date when you accessed the source8. Network URL web addressFrome, Dr. Keith W. “Headmaster Messages.”

Headmaster’s Monthly Letter, 9/7/05. Elmwood Franklin School, October 2004. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/

Citing A Graphic From Internet Source

1. Title of site underlined2. Name of the editor of the site

(if given)3. Date of electronic publication

or latest update4. Name of sponsoring institution

or organization5. Date of access6. URL address

Elmwood Franklin School. 2004. 7 October 2005. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/

Parenthetical Citation

Acknowledges where in your paper you have used another’s words, facts or ideas using

parenthesis (brackets).

This information must match exactly the bibliographic or works cited record for your

research paper.

Includes:

1. Author’s last name

2. Page number

(Frome 93)

Bibliography

Must be alphabetized according to the author’s last name

Websites that do not have authors’ are arranged

alphabetically following author citations

BibliographyElmwood Franklin School. 2004. 7 October 2005. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/

Frome, Keith. What Not To Expect: A Meditation on the Spirituality of Parenting. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Be A Person of Character.” The Buffalo News, September 30, 2005. p. A2.

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol. 23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” 60Minutes. Narr: Ed Bradley, CBS. October 23, 2005. www.cbsnews.com/60minutes/

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” Interview with Katie Couric. New York: The Today Show. MSNBC. October 21, 2005

Frome, Dr. Keith W. Personal Interview. Buffalo, New York. October 14, 2005.

Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Headmaster Messages.” Headmaster’s Monthly Letter, 9/7/05. Elmwood Franklin School, October 2004. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/

Questions?Please refer to the MLA Handbook For Writers of Research Papers, 6th edition for further citation

details!