1. An Introduction to MLA Citation & Format
Clovis Community College Center

2. Table of Contents What is MLA? Why Use Documentation?
Comparing Other Styles
The Basic Format
Cover Page
Work Cited
In-text Citations for Print and Electronic Sources
Work Cited
Books
Magazines
Websites
Databases

3. What is MLA? MLA is the Modern Language Association’s
standardized method for citing sources for
research as well as a method for
formatting papers.
MLA format is typically used for English
and Humanities.

4. Why Use Documentation? It helps a writer support a thesis.
It helps integrate quotations and other source material.
It provides your reader with research information on your topic.
And most importantly, it helps avoid plagiarism.

5. Comparing Other Styles
APA – American Psychological Association standard for documenting sources and formatting papers.
This style is typically used for Social Sciences.
Chicago Style – This is yet another method of documentation which is typically used for Humanities and Social Sciences.
Don’t confuse these with MLA; see the guidelines specific to this style.

6. The Basic Format

7. In-text Citations for Print and Electronic Sources
After the borrowed phrase, put the author’s last name in parentheses along with the page number.
E.g. Estimates of the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers vary because little evidence is being collected (Smith 2).
On electronic sources with no page number, simply put the last name.

8. The Work Cited Page

9. Work Cited Format for a Book
For most books, arrange the information into three units, each followed by a period and one space.
Start with the author’s name, last name first.
The title and subtitle, italicized.
The place of publication, the publisher, and the date
The medium of publication (print or web)
E.g. Tan, Amy. The Bonesetter’s Daughter. New York: Putnam, Print.

10. Work Cited Format for a Magazine
List in order, separated by periods.
The author’s name
The title of the article, in quotation marks
The title of the magazine, italicized
The date and the page numbers, separated by a colon
The medium of publication (print or web)
E.g. Kaplan, Robert D. “History Moving North.” Atlantic Monthly. Feb.1997: 21+. Web.

11. Work Cited Format for Websites
For websites include these elements:
Author’s name
Title of the work in quotation marks
Title of the site, italicized
Date of publication or last update
Sponsor of the site (if not named as the author or given as the title of the site)
Date that you accessed the source
The URL in angle brackets (optional)
The medium of publication
E.g. Shiva, Vandana. “Bioethics: A third world issue.” Native Web Sept <
shiva. html>. Web.

12. Work Cited Format for an Online Database
For databases include these elements:
Publication information for the source
The name of the database, italicized
The name of the service
The name and location of the library where you retrieved the article
The date you accessed the source
The URL of the service (optional)
The medium of publication

13. Common Misconceptions About MLA
MLA does not require a cover sheet as some may think; cover sheets are used only for APA and Chicago.
All sources listed on the works cited page must be in alphabetical order.
All paraphrases & quotations must be cited even if you’ve cited the source earlier in the essay.
Double space everything, but do not include an extra space between paragraphs.

14. For more assistance, visit the Writing Center in the open computer lab
Hours:
Monday 9:00-2:00
Tuesday 10:00-3:00
Wednesday 9:00-2:00
Thursday 10:00-3:00
Phone number
Call or stop by to make an appointment with a tutor!