2.  Often when we see the word “quote” we think it must be someone saying something. While we may have dialogue in a direct quote, a direct quote is anything that you take from a piece of writing and use word for word. The quotation marks indicate to the reader that this is an exact copy of the text you are referencing.

3.  Any words you use from a text word-for-word need quotation marks and a parenthetical citation:  Quotation marks close the quote  Parenthetical citation has the first word (possibly the first two words) of the citation from your Works Cited page. It may be the author’s last name, the first word of a webpage title, the first word of a journal article title, etc… YOU NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE BEFORE YOU BEGIN WRITING!!!!!  Space between the name and page number – no period or coma in between  If there is no page number, then you just use the first word of the citation  Period after the citation

4.  Paraphrases are always in your own words, but keep the spirit of the author. A paraphrase may be more then one sentence. The citation does not need to go at the end of every sentence, but at the end of the idea.  Still follow all the rules for a parenthetical citation.

5.  Works Cited is at the TOP, CENTERED, not underlined  Citations are in alphabetical order, based on the first word in the citation.  Use hanging indents  No extra spaces between citations  Websites are not blue and hyperlinked  If a website is incredibly long, it’s okay to shorten it to its base address (this is why MLA is saying now that you don’t have to include the address, but we want to see it).

6. For Example:

7.  (Nelson).  (Poets).  (The Road).  When you do not have a page number, like with a website, then you just put the first word of the citation in the parenthetical citation. With your book source you will have a page number. Your journal source may or may not have a page number.

8.  Easybib is not always correct. In a citation, skip information you don’t have.  Journal:  Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of the Journal Volume Number.Issue Number (Year): Page numbers. Medium of Publication.  Piper, Andrew. “Rethinking the Print Object: Goethe and the Book of Everything.” PMLA 121.1 (2006): 124-138. Print.  Book:  Last name, First name. Title of Book. City of publication: Publisher, Year. Print.  Website:  Last name, First name. Title of Webpage. Title of Overall Website. Publisher or sponsor of the site. Date of Publication. Web. Date of Access..

9.  There are lots of rules with citations – if you encounter something you aren’t sure of, ask! This is how you learn it for the next time.  Also, there are MLA handbooks by the window…take a look to answer questions