MLA In-Text Citation and Works Cited

1. MLA In-TextCitation and Works Cited

2. Citing your sources…it’s important!

3. In text citations • Direct quotes, both entire sentences and phrases • Paraphrases (rephrased or summarized material) • Use of an author's argument • Historical, statistical, or scientific facts • Articles or studies you refer to within your text Whether you are writing an expository report or adding your own insights and opinions to existing research, it's important to give credit where credit is due. If you incorporate or refer to other people's work in your paper, you must give credit to those authors using parenthetical citation and a Works Cited list. You need to document:

4. “In text citations” continued • Proverbs, axioms, and sayings ("A stitch in time saves nine.") • Well-known quotations ("The buck stops here.“) • Common knowledge (Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, or oxygen has an atomic number of 8, or "The Starry Night" was painted by Vincent Van Gogh.) • Sometimes it's difficult to be sure what counts as common knowledge. Perhaps you aren't familiar with Van Gogh or an atomic number. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if a knowledgeable reader would be familiar with the information. If she'd have to look it up, you should document it. • If you aren't sure if something counts as common knowledge, document it to be safe. You do not need to document:

5. How to use in-text citations If you have the author’s name… GIVE THE AUTHOR’S NAME! There are two ways to do this: In the text itself (this is called a SIGNAL PHRASE) or In parentheses

6. SIGNAL PHRASE When the author’s name is used in the signal phrase put the page number(s) in parentheses. • In his book Go to Work on an Egg, John Easter explains that the kind of feed given to hens in the USA on LCFs (low cholesterol farms), is often low in calcium and may cause poor bone development (59).

7. SIGNAL PHRASE, con’t. • Use phrases like: • In his article, … author explains… • According to …, there are… • The article “title goes here” mentions… • This is supported by …

8. Parenthetical Citations When the author’s name is not used in the sentence introducing the source material, then include the author’s last name in the parenthetical citation before the page number(s). • **Note that no comma appears between the author’s name and the page number(s). • In some severe cases it may lead to hens “which are so crippled that they cannot raise their heads to reach the feeding bowls” and consequently starve to death (Chuckie 73).

9. When you have two or more authors… • Place all of the authors’ last names in the text using a SIGNAL PHRASE • According to Rooster and Leghorn this is the optimum level for chickens and should guarantee them a long life (29). • Or in the PARENTHETICAL citation • Apparently this is the optimum level for chickens and should guarantee them a long life (Rooster and Leghorn 29).

10. Still not sure? • Your in-text citation should match the beginning of its entry in your Works Cited. This way the reader can easily find more information about the source in your Works Cited.

11. Remember… If in doubt CITE IT! Twice. Once in your paragraph. Once on the Works Cited Page.

12. WORKS CITED PAGE

13. Formatting the Page • Use 1 – inch margins on all sides • Use Times New Roman 10-12 point font • Center the words “Works Cited” at the top of the page • Double space between the title and the first entry • Double space the whole page, but do NOT quadruple space between entries If an entry runs more than one line, it is double spaced, but indent the subsequent line(s) five spaces.

14. Formatting the page, continued • Include only sources mentioned in the paper • Alphabetical order by the FIRST WORD of the citation • Ignore a, an or the if it’s the first word of the citation and alphabetize by the second word • Punctuate carefully! Every period / comma counts. Don’t forget the period at the END OF EVERY ENTRY!

15. Article in a Magazine or Newspaper • list the article's author • put the title of the article in quotation marks • underline or italicize the periodical title • date (remember to abbreviate the month) • Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages.

16. A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Pages.

17. Article in Print AND Electronic Form Last name, first name. “Title of article.” Name of magazine underlined. Day Month Year of publication. Day Month Year of access. http://www.urlgoes here.