MLA Format and Citing Sources

Avoiding Plagiarism

MLA Format Review

12-pt. Times New Roman Font 1-Inch Margins Double-Spaced Header with Page Numbers Proper Heading

Sample Paper Format

R. Smith

Ms. English Teacher

English 9, Per. 2

21 March 2010

How to Make the Grade

What does it take to make a great grade on a research paper? Besides great research, the

writer must present the paper in a logical fashion following all the elements of writing. Those

elements include citations, language, and grammar/mechanics. Other elements to consider are

formatting, preliminary work, and required elements.

Smith 1

What is a Works Cited Page?

A Works Cited page is a list that names all of the reference sources a writer has included in his or her research paper.

All sources MUST be listed to avoid PLAGIARISM, which is taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own.

Where is a Works Cited page?

A works cited page appears as a separate page after your essay to show all of the sources you have referenced in your writing.

It is considered the last page of your essay and should be numbered accordingly.

In other words, page 5 of a 5-page paper.

What is the format?

12-point Times New Roman font 1-inch Margins Double Spaced Title is in normal font, NOT larger, bold, or underlined Entries will appear in alphabetical order Each entry must have a hanging indent

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. McDougal Littell

Literature, 2008 edition. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2008. 940-1049.

Print.

Sample Works Cited Format

Works Cited

Blandford, Elisabeth. How to Write the Best Research Paper Ever! New York: Pieces of

Learning, 1998. Print.

Elements of Language: Third Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 2002. Print.

Expository Research Paper. Whiteland: Whiteland Community High School, 2010. Print.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York:

The Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Print.

Smith 4

Works Cited Entries

Works cited entries look different depending on the type of work you are referencing.

There is a special formula for each type of source material.

You must follow these formulas CAREFULLY to receive credit.

Pay special attention to the types of punctuation used.

Basics of Every Entry

Author Title (or titles) Publication Information Date of Publication Page Numbers Medium Other Information

Basics of Every Entry

If any item is missing, skip it! Move on to the next item on the list.

Example—Reference Article with no author.

“Ginsburg, Ruth Bader.” Who’s Who in America. 62nd ed. 2008. Print.

How to Cite a…BOOK!

Format:Author. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Print.

Examples:Carré, John le. The Tailor of Panama. New

York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. Print.McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York:

Vintage International, 2006. Print.

How to Cite a…Newspaper Article

Format:

Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper Date of publication, edition: section page number. Print.

Example:

Jeromack, Paul. “This Once, A David of the Art World Does Goliath a Favor.” New York Times 13 July 2002, New England ed.: A13+. Print.

How to Cite a…Magazine Article

Format:

Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Date of Publication: Page Numbering. Print.

Example:

Wood, Jason. “Spellbound.” Sight and Sound Dec. 2005: 28-30. Print.

How to Cite an…Article in a Reference Book

Format:

Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Book. Editor. Publication Information. City: Publisher, Year. Print.

Example:

Allen, Anita L. “Privacy in Health Care.” Encyclopedia of Bioethics. Ed. Steven G. Post. 3rd ed. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan-Thompson, 2004. Print.

How to Cite an…Article in a Scholarly Journal

Format: Author. “Title of the Article.” Title of Journal Publication Information (Date): Page number. Print.

Examples:

Barthelme, Frederick. “Architecture.” Kansas Quarterly 13.3-4 (1981): 77-80. Print.

Williams, Linda. “Of Kisses and Ellipses: The Long Adolescence of American Movies.” Critical Inquiry 32.2 (2006): 288-340. Print.

There are also formats for…

Books with Multiple Authors Anthologies Reviews Pamphlets Editorials If you want to use any of these items, see

me!

How to Cite a…Page of a Website

Format:Author. “Title of Work.” Title of Website. Publisher or Sponsor,

Date of Publication. Web. Date of Access.(If publisher or sponsor is not available, include N.p. If date of

publication is not available, include N.d.)

Examples:Tyre, Peg. “Standardized Tests in College?.” Newsweek.

Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2007. Web. 15 May 2008.“Hourly News Summary.” National Public Radio. Natl. Public

Radio, 20 July 2007. Web. 20 July 2007.

How to Cite a…Work from a Database

To cite a work from a periodical in an online database, such as a newspaper or magazine article, begin the entry by following the recommendations for the original print source.

If the original page numbers are available, include them.

If only the starting page number is given include it”+”. If no page numbers are given, include n. pag.

How to Cite a…Work from a Database

Format: ALWAYS end the entry with…Title of Database. Web. Date of Access.

Examples:Chan, Evans. “Postmodernism and Hong Kong

Cinema.” Postmodern Culture 10.3 (2000): n. pag. Project Muse. Web. 5 June 2008.

Lal, Ananda. “Letter.” TDR 51.3 (2007): 17-18. Project Muse. Web. 30 Nov. 2007.

There are also formats for…

Interviews Lectures and Speeches TV Broadcasts Videos, Film, or DVDs Legal Sources More! If you want to use any of these items, see

me!

Works Cited (For this PowerPoint!)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Print.