Introduction to MLA Format

What is MLA? MLA – Modern Language Association In research writing, it is important to give credit to sources that the writer includes in his or her paper to avoid plagiarism. MLA is one style of doing this.

Why do we need MLA? Allows readers to find your sources easily Provides consistent format Gives you credibility as a writer Protects yourself from plagiarism

What should my paper look like? 12 point Times New Roman – everything on page 1 inch margins all around Heading in top left – Name, Class, Teacher, Date Last Name and Page Number on every page other than first. (ex. Straw 3) Top Right header Double Spaced throughout paper.

Example Research Paper

Citing Your Sources: 2 parts In-Text Citations or Parenthetical Citations – in the text of your paper. Works Cited Page – list of all sources used in paper (last page of paper)

Example of parenthetical citation

Example of Works Cited Page

When do I use in-text citations? Any time you directly quote words from another source that are not your own. – A DIRECT QUOTE If you copy without “quotes,” IT IS PLAGIARISM! Direct quotes are surrounded by quotation marks and “are immediately followed by a parenthetical citation” ( MLA Format Ppt Presentation ).

When do I use parenthetical citations? When summarizing facts and ideas from a source, you should cite the source Summarizing means to take ideas from a large passage of another source put them in your own words. Even if you use your own words, you still have to cite it!!

When do I use parenthetical citations? Paraphrasing means that you read the source first then put the information in your own words based on your own understanding of the text. Cite your source when you paraphrase the information. You may not copy word for word, but you might sum up what you read in shorter form. In this case, you still have to cite it!

PLAGIARISM Simply changing one word, or every other word, or a few words and not citing the source is PLAGIARISM! When in doubt, cite your source!!

Works Cited Page At end of typed report, list all sources and use MLA format. Include as much of this information as possible: ◦ Author – Last Name, First Name (Ex. Smith, John) ◦ Title – Underlined or Quotations ◦ Publication Information – where/how source was published  City of Publication: Publisher (New York: Random House)  Database information (If database is used)  Magazine, Journal, Website Name (Newsweek) (Greek Mythology)  Date of Publication – when the information was published or accessed (3 May 2011) (2005)

Works Cited page (continued) List sources in ALPHABETICAL ORDER by the author’s last name. First line is left aligned! Every line following should be indented! Word hanging indent directions: 1. highlight citation Click on Home tab Click on arrow to the right of “paragraph” On the “indentation” section select “hanging” (will be beside “Special”)

ABC Order

Works Cited Page - Reminders Whatever is listed first on your Works Cited will be what you cite in parenthetical citation in your paper! Look at the samples in this presentation and in your textbook to know for sure how to cite sources! ASK ME FOR HELP! I have done this for many years, and I will know how to help you or where to look to find answers!

These are just the basics! For specific citation guidelines, try these sources: ◦ Purdue Online Writing Lab This comprehensive site from Purdue University provides free writing resources for students and teachers. Check out the “Research and Citation” section for guidelines for citing sources according to MLA.

How to Cite Books BOOKS ◦ Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication. ◦ Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York: Penguin, Print.

How to Cite Periodicals Article in a Magazine ◦ Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of publication. Article in a Newspaper ◦ Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients." Washington Post 24 May 2007: LZ01. Print.

Electronic Sources INCLUDE AS MUCH OF THE FOLLOWING AS AVAILABLE: Author and/or editor names (if available) Article name in quotation marks (if applicable) Title of the Website, project, or book in italics. (Remember that some Print publications have Web publications with slightly different names. They may, for example, include the additional information or otherwise modified information, like domain names [e.g..com or.net].) Any version numbers available, including revisions, posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers. Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date. Take note of any page numbers (if available). Date you accessed the material. Medium of publication. URL (if required, or for your own personal reference).

Website Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.