CITING WITH MLA

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTIONML A 7 T H EDIT ION

ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

WHAT IS MLA STYLE?

MLA is short for Modern Language Association.

The MLA Handbook is the preferred style manual and guide for writing in the Humanities, especially in English and Literature courses.

WHY DO I NEED TO USE IT?

To prevent PLAGIARISM!!!

What is plagiarism?

• When you take information from a source without giving credit to the creator/writer.

• Plagiarism is a form of stealing!

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU PLAGIARIZE?From the STU Student Handbook…

Plagiarism is intentionally or unintentionally representing the

words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic

exercise.

Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:

a. Presenting assignments, such as course preparations, examinations, tests, projects, and term papers, which are not original work of the student. Original work of the student may include thoughts, ideas, and words of another author only if their source is acknowledged using normally accepted standards.

b. Using information from printed/video/audio materials produced by others and presenting it as your own.

c. Altering thoughts or writing of others to make them appear as one’s own. Purchasing, rewriting, or stealing a paper and making it look as if it were your own.

If the student is found to be guilty of academic dishonesty sufficient in magnitude to result in expulsion from the university, a record of the incident will be placed in the student's academic record in the Office of Records, Registration and Academic Computing by the Dean.

HOW DO I USE MLA?

Start by becoming familiar with some of the basic requirements.

Take a look at the MLA Handbook.

Use the MLA guides linked on the library homepage.

Learn to cite your sources the moment you quote/paraphrase/or summarize information in your paper.

And learn how to document sources on your Works Cited page.

GETTING STARTED WITH MLA

The rest of this series will show you how to…

1. Know when you cite your sources and how to

2. Cite three of the most common source types:

• Books• Articles• and Websites

WHEN TO CITE

PART 2

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO CITE?

If you…

• Quote• Paraphrase• or Summarize information from a source

YOU MUST CITE IT!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Quotes

A quote is a statement that is written word-for-word.

It is identical to the statement in the original source and must ALWAYS be cited.

Paraphrasing/Summarizing

When you restate information from a source in your own words, you are paraphrasing.

When you give an overview of an entire paragraph, section, or book (think big), you are summarizing.

Always cite when paraphrasing or summarizing!

CITING BOOKS

PART 3

2 WAYS TO CITE BOOKSIn the text

As Herald defines them, alternate or parallel universes in fantasy “are fully developed. They are  either our own world transformed by a difference in history or one  that can be traveled to from our  world” (101).

In a parenthetical citation

Alternate or parallel universes in fantasy “are fully developed. They are either our own world transformed by a difference in history or one  that can be traveled to from our  world” (Herald 101).

WORKS CITED

Herald, Diana Tixier. Fluent In Fantasy : A Guide To Reading Interests. Englewood, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 1999. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 10 May 2013.

CITING ARTICLES

PART 4

2 WAYS TO CITE ARTICLES

In the text

When discussing the evolution of fantasy as a genre, Klapscik notes that “In spite of Tolkien's crucial influence and enormous popularity, the fantasy that we read today has changed, or at least, the way the audience reads and interprets fantasy and fairy tales has changed” (par .2).

In a parenthetical citation

Given the popularity of the fantasy genre, it is interesting to note that “In spite of Tolkien's crucial influence and enormous popularity, the fantasy that we read today has changed, or at least, the way the audience reads and interprets fantasy and fairy tales has changed” (Klapscik par .2).

WORKS CITED

Klapcsik, Sándor. "Neil Gaiman's Irony, Liminal Fantasies, and Fairy Tale Adaptations." Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies 14.2 (2008): 317-334. Literature Resource Center. Web. 10 May 2013.

CITING WEBSITES

PART 5

2 WAYS TO CITE WEBSITES

In text

Despite the proliferation of contemporary fantasy fiction, Sanchez holds that “The very first recorded literary works in history were fantasy: the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's Odyssey, The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night … and countless others were the prototypes upon which modern literature was formed” (par. 2).

In a parenthetical citation

Some argue that “The very first recorded literary works in history were fantasy: the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer's Odyssey, The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night (which featured the first appearances of Sinbad and Aladdin) and countless others were the prototypes upon which modern literature was formed” (Sanchez par. 2).

WORKS CITED

Sanchez, Matt. “Fantasy.” Genre Fiction as Literature. University of Florida Interactive Media Lab, 2005. Web. 10 May 2013.

SAMPLE WORKS CITED

The final Works Cited includes all sources cited in alphabetical order. It is the last page in your paper and includes pagination.

AND THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE!

Start writing and citing!

You can find the Library’s Citation Guides on our homepage at www.stu.edu/library

Just click

This guide was created by Gricel Dominguez.

Need MLA help? Contact Gricel at gdominguez@stu.edu or visit the University Library!