1. MLA How-To Guide

2. MLA Stands for “Modern Language Association”
An easy way to keep your research papers organized
Consists of two interconnected parts:
In-text citation
Works cited

4. Conclusion Introduction = Bride from real life to analysis
Body = Analysis
Conclusion = Bridge from analysis to real life

5. Conclusion 1. Restate Thesis: IN DIFFERENT WORDS
2. Summarize your analysis: BODY PARAGRAPHS
3. Leave the reader with thought: WHY DID THIS MATTER (suggestion: tie in hook)
Your conclusion should basically state 1) what you just told them, 2) The specifics of how that is possible, and 3) why they should care about it.

6. In-Text Citation
This is the information about your source that you put inside your essay
In-text citation goes at the end of a sentence in parentheses (like this).
Only two items need to be in an in-text citation: the author’s last name and a page number
For web pages, you only need the author’s last name (if no author, put shortened version of title)

7. In-Text: Book Citation I
According to one author, “Eating vegetables will reduce the chances that you will die” (Smith 45).
QUOTE
IN-TEXT CITATION
IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE AUTHOR’S NAME IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SENTENCE, SO IT IS PLACED IN THE IN-TEXT CITATION. NOTE ALSO THAT THE IN-TEXT CITATION COMES BEFORE THE PERIOD IN THE SENTENCE.

8. In-Text: Book Citation II
According to John Smith, “Eating vegetables will reduce the chances that you will die” (45).
AUTHOR’S NAME
QUOTE
IN-TEXT CITATION
IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE AUTHOR’S NAME IS INCLUDED IN THE SENTENCE, SO IT’S NOT NECESSARY TO PUT IT IN THE IN-TEXT CITATION, TOO

9. In-Text: Book Citation III
John Smith believes that people who eat vegetables will live longer than people who do not (45).
NO QUOTE!?
IN-TEXT CITATION
HERE, THERE’S NO QUOTE--BUT SINCE THE INFORMATION IS FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, YOU STILL NEED TO CITE IT.

10. In-Text: Web Citation I
Jose Ruiz says, “there is nothing worse than being 40 and seeing your own reflection in a mirror.”
AUTHOR’S NAME
QUOTE
NO IN-TEXT CITATION?!
IF YOU CITE A WEB PAGE, YOU DON’T NEED A PAGE NUMBER. FURTHER, IF YOU INCLUDE THE AUTHOR’S NAME (OR THE WEB PAGE’S TITLE) IN THE ESSAY, YOU DON’T EVEN NEED AN IN-TEXT CITATION.

11. In-Text: Web Citation II
A nutritionist once said, “there is nothing worse than being 40 and seeing your own reflection in a mirror” (Ruiz).
NO AUTHOR’S NAME
QUOTE
IN-TEXT CITATION
IF YOU DON’T USE THE AUTHOR’S NAME IN THE SENTENCE, THEN PUT IT IN THE IN-TEXT CITATION ALL BY ITSELF.

12. In-Text: web citation III
According to CNN, “Eleven people were trapped in an elevator for four years” (“Trapped”).
MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WEB SITE AND A WEB PAGE. A WEB SITE, LIKE CNN.COM, IS MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUAL WEB PAGES. IF YOU USE MANY DIFFERENT PAGES FROM THE SAME WEB SITE, YOU HAVE TO CITE EACH ONE OF THOSE PAGES SEPARATELY
QUOTE
IN-TEXT CITATION
IF THERE IS NO AUTHOR, YOU NEED TO PUT A SHORTENED TITLE IN THE IN-TEXT CITATION--AND THAT TITLE NEEDS TO BE IN QUOTES.

13. Quote Sandwhich

14. Bingo Words
Support Plagiarism 7 Controlling Idea Live Connect College Money Respect Career Ms. Chapman
Thesis Statement Introduction Main Idea Transition Hook Conclusion Citation Quotes Analysis Evidence Tie
Interview Rough Draft Outline Final Draft Research Cat Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Position NHS Organized

15. Works Cited
THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CREATING WORKS CITED ENTRIES.

16. Works Cited
FIRST, THE NAME “WORKS CITED” SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THE PAGE AND CENTERED
THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CREATING WORKS CITED ENTRIES.

17. Works Cited
FIRST, THE NAME “WORKS CITED” SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THE PAGE AND CENTERED
SECOND, THE FIRST LINE FOR EACH ENTRY IS NOT INDENTED, BUT THE NEXT LINE IS. ALSO, THE ENTRIES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CREATING WORKS CITED ENTRIES.

18. Works Cited
FIRST, THE NAME “WORKS CITED” SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THE PAGE AND CENTERED
SECOND, THE FIRST LINE FOR EACH ENTRY IS NOT INDENTED, BUT THE NEXT LINE IS. ALSO, THE ENTRIES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
THIRD, WORKS CITED ENTRIES ARE DOUBLE SPACED (JUST LIKE THE REST OF AN ESSAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE)
THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CREATING WORKS CITED ENTRIES.

19. PAGE NUMBERS FOR THAT SECTION
Works Cited Book Entry
BOOK ENTRIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: AUTHOR’S NAME, TITLE OF BOOK, EDITOR OR TRANSLATOR (OR BOTH), PLACE OF PUBLICATION, PUBLISHER, AND DATE OF PUBLICATION.
IF YOU ARE CITING ONLY PART OF A BOOK (LIKE THIS ENTRY), YOU NEED TO INCLUDE THE TITLE OF THAT PART AND THE PAGE NUMBERS FOR THAT PART.
TITLE OF CHAPTER/ESSAY IN BOOK (NOTE THAT THIS IS IN QUOTES WHILE BOOK TITLE IS UNDERLINED).
Smith, John. "Vegetables Prevent Aging." I Never Want to Grow Old: Ten Essays on Aging. Ed. Morton VanDeusen. New York: Fakery Books,
PAGE NUMBERS FOR THAT SECTION

20. Works Cited Web Page Entry
WEB PAGE ENTRIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: WEB PAGE TITLE, WEB SITE TITLE, DATE OF PUBLICATION, DATE OF ACCESS, URL
THE FIRST DATE IS THE DATE POSTED ON THE WEB PAGE. IF THERE IS NO DATE POSTED, YOU DON’T HAVE TO INCLUDE THIS
“Trapped in an Elevator for Four Years.” CNN 19 APR May <
THE SECOND DATE IS THE DATE OF ACCESS: THE DATE YOU VISITED THE PAGE
USE THE EXACT WEB ADDRESS, NOT JUST THE WEB SITE’S HOME PAGE

21. Other works cited entries
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
CARTOON
JOURNAL ARTICLE
ESSAY FOUND ON THE WEB

22. Ah, but changes are afoot…
There is a new edition of the MLA Handbook out, and it includes some significant changes— especially for web sources.

23. Publication Medium and Abbreviations
Instead of adding the URL to a web citation, you will instead add the word “Web,” along with all the other information. Also, along with the web page title, you need to add the publisher’s name. That’s usually found on the bottom of the page (near a © logo). If there is no publisher listed, put n.p. instead.
“Trapped in an Elevator for Four Years.” CNN. Cable News Network,19 APR Web May 2008.

24. More Abbreviations
If there is no date listed on the web page, then put the initials n.d. Make sure to ALWAYS add the date of access, however.
Lessig, Lawrence. “Free Debates: More Republicans Call on RNC.” Lessig N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2008.

25. No More Underlining
Finally, print sources change slightly—adding the word “Print” to the end of any print source to distinguish it from web or other sources. Also, all sources that were underlined are now italicized.
Smith, John. “Vegetables Prevent Aging.” I Never Want to Grow Old: Ten Essays on Aging. Ed. Morton VanDeusen. New York: Fakery Books, Print.

26. Self Edit
The Intro and conclusion should have about 5 sentences. Highlight the periods in yellow.
4 body paragraphs have at least 7 sentences. Highlight the periods in yellow.
Your thesis should be clear and should constantly referred to in your essay. Highlight your thesis in green, and all the times it is referred to in your essay.
There should be 6 citations EMBEDDED PROPERLY! Highlight your quotes/paraphrases in pink.
Your grammar should be correct. If you see any imperfections you need to edit, highlight in orange.
The essay should be written in MLA format. Check your margins, double spacing, header, font, and citations. Make corrections as you need. Ask a partner with correct format for help.

27. Peer Edit #1
Are the commas in appropriate spots? Put an X through unnecessary commas
Are all words capitalized that should be? Put 3 lines under a letter that should be capitalized.
Are there any contractions? (can’t/ won’t/ haven’t) If so circle them and correct them so the are NOT corrections (don’t ----do not)
Are there run on sentences that seem like the train of thought is lost? If you underline in and write RO?
Is the essay written in active voice? If not, change the passive to active. Active is stronger.
Is the work cited page correct? Are there 6 sources? Are the excess lines (per source) indented?

28. Peer Edit #2 Take out your previous Peer Review Sheet.
Complete it with your partners final essay.
Glue to page 42 in composition book
Trade papers with a new partner.
Evaluate each others Essay based on the “Research Paper Point Breakdown”
TOMORROW TURN IN BOTH ROUGH DRAFTS
One should have self edit highlights and corrections from yesterday
The other should have written edits and “Point Breakdown” paper attached.
Your final Draft should be stapled to the top.

29. The End