USING MLA STYLE: GENERAL GUIDELINES

Brought to you by the Learning Commons

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!Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a lead role relocating Japanese Americans from internment camps (1).

With an author – Wrong!Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a lead role relocating Japanese Americans from internment camps (Nakano1).

Paraphrases, summaries

No author – Right!“Election Officers Visit Internment Camps”

examines the potential votes that will be cast by people living in internment camps (13-14).

No author – Wrong!“Election Officers Visit Internment Camps”

examines the potential votes that will be cast by people living in internment camps (“Election” 13-14).

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, “summary states title and author in first sentence,” (2) 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

Article from Database

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title volume.issue (year): pages. Database Name. Medium. Date of access.

“Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2008). Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Popular Magazine - online

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

Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger. "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Newspaper Article - online

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

"Joe Sixpack: How Prohibition Played Out in Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily News. 18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Works Cited

"Joe Sixpack: How Prohibition Played Out in Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily News. 18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger. "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

“Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2008). Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Want More Info?

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

Class LibGuide MLA Citation Website Learning Center – tutors and academic

coach