LR10 - Introduction to Library Research & Information Competency

MLA 2009: The Big MLA Page

Note:

The 7th edition (2009) of MLA is very similar to the "old" way of doing MLA, but with some BIG simplifications!

Check out the OWL for more details, but in a nutshell:

• 1. Use italics instead of underlining titles. No underlining!
 
• 2. Database URLs are gone. Website URLs are still acceptable, and they *should* be included if a website is hard to relocate OR if your instructor requests them.
 
• 3. Each citation needs to indicate the "medium" (what kind of source is it?): Print, Web, TV, Performance, etc.
• MOST of your sources are going to be either PRINT or WEB. "Print" means you found an actual printed book, periodical, etc on a shelf somewhere (so to speak). "Web" means you are reading the book, periodical, etc via your computer.

• DOWNLOAD the MLA Handout (with more templates & examples)
• CLICK HERE FOR commonly used citation templates & examples

First Things First

MLA "Style" includes some basic rules for the format of your paper. This includes:

• Page Layout: 1 inch margins, 12 point font, double-spaced lines
• Header: numbered pages and your last name in the upper-right-hand corner, 1/2 inch from the top of the page
• Title: centered, in a normal font, below your header
• Accurate Citations and References: two required elements, discussed below

In-Text Citations

In-text citations (also known as "parenthetical citations") are in parentheses within the body of your paper. Every time you cite, paraphrase, borrow an idea, or use a unique term or phrase, you must put a parenthetical citation immediately after it in your paper. Each parenthetical citation must match up to a full citation (also known as a "Reference") in your Works Cited page. This is so your reader can flip back to your Works Cited page and match any in-text citation up to a complete reference/citation, in order to determine the original source of your information.

Two Parts! There are two parts to the parenthetical citation in MLA: the author's name and a page number. The parenthetical citation comes before your sentence ends and is punctuated. For example, two basic options to cite something written by an author with the last name "Brown" are:
...according to recent reports (Brown 75).	OR	....according to Brown's research (75).

Exceptions!
No page number? Sometimes, especially with electronic resources, page numbers aren't apparent or don't exist. A paragraph number is appropriate for some non-paginated sources. Otherwise, use the author's last name only or the first few words of a title. EXAMPLES: ...according to multiple surveys (Ryan). ....Ryan's multiple surveys support this claim. ...supported by the data (Ryan par. 5).	OR	No author? If you can't find an author to cite, use the first few words of a long title (like a journal article) or use the full title of the source (like a book or website). Article titles go in quotation marks; book and website titles are underlined. EXAMPLES: ...evidence is collected (Evidence Collection Agency). ....given the evidence ("Documenting Truth"). ....based on the evidence ("Documenting Truth" par. 2).

The Full Reference

Your Works Cited page contains an alphabetical list of full references. They must match up to every single parenthetical (in-text) citation in the body of your paper.

Format your Works Cited page:

Page	Begin your Works Cited on a new page, at the end of your paper. Continue to number your Works Cited page(s) and continue to double-space.
Title	Center the words Works Cited at the top of the page, one inch from the top.
References	The first line of each reference begins on the left side of the page; you need to indent any additional lines one half inch (hit the "Tab" key). They are listed alphabetically. Read on to find out more on this!

See examples of Works Cited pages at http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s5.html!

Basic Rules

• Author's Name: when available, the author's name always comes first at the front of your citation. Example: Williams, Ruth.
• • If there is MORE than ONE author, you list the first author as noted above, then the rest of the authors normally. Example: Rotenberg, Ruth, Sandy Duane, and Erin Fuller.
• • If there are FOUR or MORE authors on a source, you list the first one and then put "et al" after. Like this: Williams, Ruth, et al. (Et al means "and others" in Latin.)
 
• Spacing & the Hanging Indent: your entire citation must be double spaced. The first line of your citation is to the left; the subsequent lines of your citation are indented five spaces
 
• Alphabetical:Your sources should be listed on your Works Cited page, in alphabetical order
 
• Punctuation: Capitalize major words in any title, except words like "a, of, the, an, or...."

WATCH OUT FOR:

Database Citation Makers! They are almost always incorrect, although they ARE improving rapidly. They ARE excellent for capturing essential citation information, so use them if you like, just check whatever they "give" you against the source itself and a reputable template. Note that the citation makers often leave out info like page numbers or correct volume/issue number(s).