160 likes | 166 Views
This presentation provides an overview of the 2016 update to MLA style. It covers general guidelines, first page format, in-text citations, and works cited lists. Learn about the changes and improvements in MLA documentation.
E N D
CENTRALIA COLLEGEWRITING CENTER What’s new with MLA? An overview of the 2016 update Faculty Coordinator, Linda G. Foss English Department
Rule #1: ASK Your Instructor Alwaysfollow your instructor’s guidelines and instructional materials for source documentation. Ask for clarification, if needed.
Rule #2: Don’t assume . . . . . . because you learn a documentation system, it will always work for you: Different disciplines have their own systems, such as APA for social sciences Teachers sometimes adapt systems Handbooks aren’t comprehensive Citation generators aren’t reliable
MLA Style: an overview • This presentation will cover: • General MLA guidelines • First page format • In-text citations • Works Cited list, including 2016 updates* *See the MLA Style Center https://style.mla.org/
2016 Update The 2016 MLA Handook, 8th edition, is based on these 3 principles: “Cite . . . traits shared by most works.” “. . . there is often more than one correct way to document a source.” “Make your documentation useful to readers.” (MLA Handbook 3-4)
Page Formatting: no changes* *from the 2009 edition Margins: one inch on all sides of a standard 8-1/2 x 11 page Text: 12 pt. “easily readable,” such as Times Roman, double-spaced, not justified at right margin Paragraphs: are indented ½” without extra spacing Running Heads: author’s last name and page number in upper right header (The MLA Style Center)
First Page Format: no changes* *from the 2009 edition (The MLA Style Center)
In-Text Citations: no changes* *from the 2009 edition (The MLA Style Center) MLA uses parenthetical (in-text) citations within the paper to identify source usage. Parenthetical citations generally include author’s last name--OR if no author, use first words of title--& page number if print or stable PDF. Parenthetical citations must correspond to the source’s full citation entry on the alphabetical Works Cited.
Works Cited: what’s the same as the 2009 edition ? (The MLA Style Center) It’s the last page of the paper It has a centered title: Works Cited It’s all in the same typestyle as paper It’s all double-spaced It’s alphabetized by first word in citation It uses a “hanging indent” for run-over lines Each citation ends with a period
Works Cited: what’s new in 2016? • The biggest change in 2016 is the approach to citing, which does not depend on type of source (such as book, newpaper, website) • Citations include core elements in the same order, per template • Missing information such as dates or page numbers is simply omitted (instead of using abbreviations, such as n.d.) • Source modality (web, print) is not indicated • Web sources end with URLs, but without angle brackets < > • Web access dates are not required (The MLA Style Center)
Gathering information . . . about your sources is the first step to being able to create an accurate citation: Who? wrote, composed, produced it? What? is its title, name, descriptor? How? was it published, created? Where? did you find it? (the container) When? was it published, created? (MLA Handbook 13)
New: Core Elements & Containers (The MLA Style Center)
Template: (The MLA Style Center)
Works Cited: 2016 example (The MLA Style Center)
On campus: Kemp 105, M-F and evenings in the Kirk Library Online: http://www.centralia.edu/academics/writingcenter/ Visit the Writing Center:
Works Cited MLA Handbook: 8th Edition, the Modern Language Association of America, 2016. The MLA Style Guide, The Modern Language Association of America, 2016, https://style.mla.org.