MLA Citation Miss Arango Lang. Arts

Evaluating Sources As you begin collecting sources evaluate them according to the following criteria… A source should be relevant. A source should be current. A source should be comprehensive.

Note-taking Distinguish your notes as Quotes Summary Paraphrase

What is the difference? Quoting means the information is identical to the original. Paraphrasing involves putting a passage into your own words. Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words.

Quoting Sources When you copy a quotation onto a note card, place quotation marks at the beginning and at the end of the quote. If you decide to omit part of the passage, use ellipsis points to indicate that you have omitted words from the original source.

Examples of Quoting Sources Work the quoted passage into your sentence… Completing his degree online allowed Davies “to gain a business education from anywhere in the world” (McClenahen 20). The information in the parentheses is the source’s information: the author’s last name and the page number where the quote was found.

Quoting passages The quote is four lines or more Double-space the quote and indent an additional one inch from the standard left margin. DO NOT enclose it within quotation marks. The final period goes before rather than after the in text citation.

Example of a Quoted Passage In his Distance Education: A Practical Guide, John Smith comments on the importance of face-to-face interaction: Effective classroom teachers rely on a number of visual aids…The delivery of information…Meet the needs of the class. (6)

Example of a quoted passage He comments on the importance of face-to-face interaction: Effective classroom teachers rely on a number of visual aids…The delivery of information…Meet the needs of the class. (Smith 6)

What is the difference between the two quoted passages I just showed you? The first quoted passage states the source in the text unlike the second quoted passage which includes the source in the parenthetical citation.

Parenthetical Citation There are two ways to cite in the text… The information inside the parentheses must include the author’s last name and the page number. If you cite the source in the text, the information in the parentheses will include only the page number.

Examples of citing sources in the text Example of citing a source in the text The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world (Williams 12). According to John Williams of National Geographic the cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world (12).

Works Cited You must have a list of all the sources you have used. For each source you are using record essential publication information. (Refer to MLA Citation handout) The Works Cited page is the last page of your research paper.

This page includes a list of all the sources you use for your research paper. This page must be arranged in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name. If there is not an author for one of your sources, the source will be listed alphabetically by its title.

MLA Format Heading Along the left margin, type your name, your teacher’s name, the class and period number, and the date on separate lines, double spacing between lines. Double space again and center the title. Title should be in quotation marks or boldface.

How do you insert page numbers? Be sure to have a running header, which includes your last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner. How do you insert page numbers? Click on Insert in the toolbar then click on page numbers. Format the page numbers to appear in the top right hand corner by clicking on the position icon to change the footer to a header.

How do you insert your last name? Double click on the page number located in the upper right hand corner. A box should appear for the header. This is where you type in your last name next to the page number. Once you have done this, the header will automatically appear on the following pages.

Works Cited Center the title, Works Cited and double space between the title and the first entry. Make sure the list of sources is in alphabetical order. Double check punctuation and publishing information.