An Introduction to MLA Citation Style

1. An Introduction to MLA Citation Style http://rhslibrary.org/ppt/MLA_Style_Intro.ppt

2. Introduction to MLA Citation WorkshopAgenda • Reasons for providing citations • How to cite resources in MLA format • Printed Books • Articles in Periodicals • Electronic and Internet sources

3. Intro to MLA CitationWhy Provide Citations? • To allow readers to reference your sources easily • To give you credibility as a writer/creator • To protect yourself from plagiarism

4. Intro to MLA CitationCiting resources in MLA format • Modern Language Association format is used by English and Humanities students and scholars • Two basic features of MLA style • In the text of your paper • Include the author or title and page citation for each source • At the end of your paper • Create list on a new page titled “Works Cited.” • Include all sources used in your paper • Alphabetized by author’s last name or title if author is unknown

5. Intro to MLA CitationWhat’s in a Citation? Generally any print resource you use has an author or creator, a title, a place of publication, a publisher, the date it was published, and the medium of the source. • Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of bbb Secrets.New York: Scholastic, 1999. Print. • Note the following: • Not every item has an author (or editor). If there is no author then start with the title of the work. • The title of the item is italicized. (alternatively, it can be underlined). • Note the punctuation: period follows author, title, date, and medium. Colon follows place and comma separates publisher from date. • The second and following lines are indented (hanging indent) in the “Works Cited” list.

6. Intro to MLA CitationCiting Periodicals (Magazines & Newspapers) Magazine and newspaper articles have an author or creator, an article title, the title of the magazine or newspaper, the dateit was published, pages, and the medium. For a Web resource the database or source and the date of access is also required. • Greenblatt, Alan. “Impact of the Internet on bbbThinking.”CQ Researcher. 20.33 (2010): 773-bbb796. CQ Researcher.Web. 8 Oct. 2010. • Note the following: • Not every article has an author. If there is no author then start with the title of the article. Do not put “Anonymous.” • The title of the article is in quotes (“”). The title of the periodical is italicized. (alternatively, it can be underlined). • If the periodical has continuous pagination (paging continues from issue to issue) provide the volume and number instead of the date. • For all online references include the date you accessed the information.

7. Intro to MLA CitationCiting Web Sites Start with the author or creator (if there is one), then web site title, a publisher or sponsoring institution, dateit was published or produced, the medium, and the date of access. Optional: URL • Halsall, Paul, ed.Internet Modern History Sourcebook.bbbbFordham U, 22 Sept. 2001. Web. 8 Oct. 2010. bbbb<http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html>. • Note the following: • Not every Web page has an author. If there is no author then start with the title of the Web page. Sometimes the author is a group such as “United States. Environmental Protection Agency.” • The title of the Web page is italicized. (alternatively, it can be underlined). • If the Web page is part of a larger Web site put the Web page title in quotes and the Web site in italics. • The URL is optional depending on the requirements of your teacher. If provided, it goes at the very end of the citation.

8. Intro to MLA CitationCitation Creators & Other Helpful Resources 1 • Print and Online Guidelines for Citations • Under “Help with Citations” on the library’s home page there are links to several online citation tools. One of those links is to: • EasyBib • I like EasyBib for online creation of citations and notes. But do be careful, it’s by no means foolproof. <http://www.easybib.com> • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers online • < http://mlahandbook.org/private/fragment/private_index> • Email address = library@redwood.org | Password = giants

9. Intro to MLA CitationCitation Creators & Other Helpful Resources 2 Database Citation Creators Many subscription databases have tools to help with making proper citations in various formats. MS Word 2007 and 2010 “References” tab allows for the creation of citations and bibliographies/works cited lists.

10. Intro to MLA CitationSummary & Recommended Resources • Questions or Comments • Recommended MLA References dianahacker.com: The Official Web Site for Diana Hacker Handbooks. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008. Documenting Sources: A Hacker Handbook Supplement. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008. MLA Formatting and Style Guide. Online Writing Lab, Purdue U, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008. Modern Language Association. Home page. Modern Language Association, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008. Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook For Writers of Research Papers New York: Modern Language Association, 2003. Print. Sebranek, Patrick. Writer’s INC. 7th ed. Wilmington, Mass.: Write Source, 2009. Print.

11. Intro to MLA CitationAcknowledgements • This slideshow is adapted from one produced by the Writing Center at Minot State University (ND) “MLA Workshop Presentation.” Minot State University Writing bbbCenter. 2008? Web. 7 Oct. 2008. <www.minotstateu.edu bbb/writingcenter/pdf/MLA_Workshop_Presentation.ppt>