INTRODUCTION TOINTRODUCTION TOMLA GUIDELINESMLA GUIDELINES

By Angela MoralesBy Angela MoralesENGLISH 120ENGLISH 120

ENGLISH 101ENGLISH 101

Jane Doe

Prof. Morales

English 101

24 February 2005

Do Not Fear: MLA Guidelines Made Simple

Doe 1

Have you ever been confused about how to

format your essays? Many students don’t realize

that MLA guidelines are fairly easy to follow.

AVOIDING PLAGIARISMAVOIDING PLAGIARISM

Citing sources correctly involves two Citing sources correctly involves two steps: steps:

In your essay, provide the author's In your essay, provide the author's name (or the title of the work) and name (or the title of the work) and the page (or paragraph) in a the page (or paragraph) in a parenthetical citationparenthetical citation

provide full citation information for provide full citation information for the work in your the work in your works cited listworks cited list

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Don’t Do it!

Always acknowledge all of your sources. This includes quoted AND paraphrased words and ideas.

Works Cited

Doe 8

Anzaldua, Gloria E. “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

Reading Context. Ed. Gail Stygall.

Boston: Thomson, 2005. 128-136.

Kirszner, Laurie and Stephen R. Mandell. The

Brief Handbook. New York: Penguin, 2005.

PARENTHETICAL CITATIONPARENTHETICAL CITATION

Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).powerful feelings" (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

Wordsworth extensively explored the role Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).of emotion in the creative process (263).

Citing a Work with No Citing a Work with No Author: Author:

An anonymous Wordsworth critic An anonymous Wordsworth critic once argued that his poems were too once argued that his poems were too emotional ("Wordsworth: An emotional ("Wordsworth: An Overrated Poet?" 100). Overrated Poet?" 100).

Use “qtd.” for Indirect Use “qtd.” for Indirect CitationsCitations

Ravitch argues that high schools are Ravitch argues that high schools are pressured to act as "social service pressured to act as "social service centers, and they don't do that well" centers, and they don't do that well" (qtd.in Weisman 259). (qtd.in Weisman 259).

Two works by the same Two works by the same author:author:

Lightenor has argued that computers Lightenor has argued that computers are not useful tools for small children are not useful tools for small children ("Too Soon" 38), though he has ("Too Soon" 38), though he has acknowledged that early exposure to acknowledged that early exposure to computer games does lead to better computer games does lead to better small motor skill development in a small motor skill development in a child's second and third year ("Hand-child's second and third year ("Hand-Eye Development" 17). Eye Development" 17).

Using Long Quotations:Using Long Quotations:

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: throughout her narration:

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the lput it on the l anding of the stairs, hoping it would be anding of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting and there he found it on quitting his his chamber. chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Brontë 78) inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Brontë 78)

Adding Words in Quotations:Adding Words in Quotations:

Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: "some urban legends, states: "some individuals [who retell urban legends] individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor make a point of learning every rumor or tale" (78). or tale" (78).

Omitting Words in Omitting Words in Quotations:Quotations:

In an essay on urban legends, Jan In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that "some Harold Brunvand notes that "some individuals make a point of learning individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale [...] and in every recent rumor or tale [...] and in a short time a lively exchange of a short time a lively exchange of details occurs" (78). details occurs" (78).

Your Works Cited ListYour Works Cited List

The works cited list should appear at the The works cited list should appear at the end of your essay.end of your essay.

It provides the information necessary for a It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and be able to read any reader to locate and be able to read any sources you cite in the essay. sources you cite in the essay.

Each source you cite in the essay must Each source you cite in the essay must appear in your works-cited list; likewise, appear in your works-cited list; likewise, each entry in the works-cited list must be each entry in the works-cited list must be cited in your text. cited in your text.

List Format:List Format:

Use a separate page. Label Works Cited and Use a separate page. Label Works Cited and center at the top of the page. center at the top of the page.

Make first line of each entry flush left with the Make first line of each entry flush left with the margin. Subsequent lines in each entry should be margin. Subsequent lines in each entry should be indented one-half inch. This is known as a hanging indented one-half inch. This is known as a hanging indent. indent.

Double space all entriesDouble space all entries UnderliningUnderlining and and italicsitalics are equivalent; select one or are equivalent; select one or

the other to use throughout your essay. the other to use throughout your essay. Alphabetize the list of works cited by the first word Alphabetize the list of works cited by the first word

in each entryin each entry

Book with one author:Book with one author:

Henley, Patricia. Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird The Hummingbird HouseHouse. . Denver: MacMurray, 1999. Denver: MacMurray, 1999.

Book with more than one Book with more than one authorauthor: :

Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer TutoringTutoring. Boston: Allyn, 2000. . Boston: Allyn, 2000.

Book or article with no Book or article with no author namedauthor named

Encyclopedia of IndianaEncyclopedia of Indiana. New York: . New York: Somerset, 1993.Somerset, 1993.

Essay in a collection:Essay in a collection:

Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." AReluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to OneHelping Writers One to One. Ed. Ben . Ed. Ben Rafoth. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, Rafoth. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000. 24-34. 2000. 24-34.

Magazine or newspaper Magazine or newspaper articlearticle::

Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Close Call." TimeTime 20 Nov. 2000: 20 Nov. 2000:

70-71. 70-71.

Trembacki, Paul. "Brees Hopes to Win Trembacki, Paul. "Brees Hopes to Win Heisman for Team." Heisman for Team." Purdue Purdue

ExponentExponent 5 Dec. 2000: 20.5 Dec. 2000: 20.

Article in a scholarly Article in a scholarly journal:journal:

Duvall, John N. "The Duvall, John N. "The (Super)Marketplace (Super)Marketplace of Images: of Images: Television as Unmediated Television as Unmediated Mediation Mediation in DeLillo's in DeLillo's White NoiseWhite Noise." ." Arizona Arizona QuarterlyQuarterly 50.3 (1994): 127-53. 50.3 (1994): 127-53.

An article on a web site:An article on a web site:

Author(s)."Article Title." Author(s)."Article Title." Name of web Name of web sitesite. . Date of posting/revision. Date of posting/revision. Name of Name of institution/organization institution/organization affiliated with affiliated with site. Date of access site. Date of access <electronic <electronic address> address>

Web site: Web site:

Poland, Dave. "The Hot Button." Poland, Dave. "The Hot Button." RoughcutRoughcut. 26 Oct. 1998. . 26 Oct. 1998.

Turner Turner Network Television. 28 Oct. Network Television. 28 Oct. 1998 1998 <http://www.roughcut.com>. <http://www.roughcut.com>.

Article on online database: Article on online database:

Smith, Martin. Smith, Martin. "WorldDominationforDummies." "WorldDominationforDummies." Journal of Despotry Journal of Despotry Feb. 2000: 66-72. Feb. 2000: 66-72.

Expanded Academic ASAPExpanded Academic ASAP. Gale . Gale Group Group Databases. Purdue University Databases. Purdue University Libraries, Libraries, West Lafayette, IN. 19 West Lafayette, IN. 19 February 2003 February 2003 <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>. <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

Interview that you Interview that you conductedconducted::

Conyers, Mira. Personal Interview. 1 Conyers, Mira. Personal Interview. 1 Dec. Dec. 2000. 2000.

Film:Film:

The Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects. Dir. Bryan Singer. . Dir. Bryan Singer. Perf. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Perf. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel

Byrne, Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, and Baldwin, and Benecio del Toro. Benecio del Toro.

Polygram, 1995. Polygram, 1995.

Additional Guidelines: Additional Guidelines:

Writing Handbook: Writing Handbook: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/english.html

Online Citation Generator: Online Citation Generator: http://www.noodletools.com/login.php