MLA Research

Concise Constructs

Dr. Brooke Helling

What is an MLA Style citation?

• MLA stands for Modern Language Association.
• This group has standardized the format for citing sources used in written work.
• The MLA publishes and updates its standards on a regular basis. Styling and formatting for MLA changes frequently.
• Each type of source has its own special way of being cited.

What is a “works cited” list?

• A list of the sources that you used to for information for your research, project, or assignment.
• It is a specific way of giving credit to the original source.
• Sources can include any number of things. Some examples are books, movies, songs, encyclopedias, web sites, people, documents, magazines, newspapers, and databases.

Why do you need a works cited list?

• To demonstrate where you found your information
• To avoid plagiarism
• To respect intellectual property by giving credit to the original creator.
• To make it easy for the reader of your paper to find information on your topic

What do most entries include?

• Author’s last name and first name (if the information is available)
• Title
• Who published it and when

What does a works cited page look like?

Works Cited

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“Acetone.” Discovering Science. Discovering Collection, 2000.

Gale Group Databases. <http://www.infotrac.galegroup.

com>.

Campbell, Gregory. How to Give a Detention. Random House, 2005.

“Kangaroo.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1995 ed.

“Key Figures – Abraham Lincoln.” The History Channel, 2005. <http://www.historychannel.com/civilwar/?page=players>.

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Whoa! That looks complicated!

It can be complicated, and it is definitely a very detailed and “picky” process.

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But don’t Panic! You don’t have to memorize all of this information; there are many technological tools to help you with citation.

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Books

Book with one author

Campbell, Gregory. How to Give a Detention. Random House, 2005.

Book with two authors

Le, Barbara and Leslie Poulos. Behaving in the Library Media Center. Holt Rinehart Inc., 2005.

Internet Web Sites

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“Key Figures – Abraham Lincoln.” The History Channel, 8 March 2006, <http://www.

historychannel.com/civilwar/?page=players>.

Newspapers and Magazines

Magazine article

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Auletta, Michelle. “Teaching Writing.” Writing Matters, 12 January

2005.

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Newspaper article

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McCann, Candice. “Computer Use in Middle Schools.” Journal

Enquirer, 14 January 2003.

How is a works cited page organized?

Just remember to R.A.P.!!

• R everse-Indent – 1^st line is NOT indented, but 2^nd and remaining lines ARE indented (also called hang indentation)
• A lphabetical order - by author’s last name (if you have it) or by title if there is no author
• P unctuation – Underlining, periods, quotes – Triple check it, then have someone else check it!

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To help you remember…

• Long Sources (such as books, names of websites, etc.) are italicized.
• Short Works sources (such as article titles) are in quotation marks.

Works Cited page

• The words “Works Cited” are centered and capitalized on the last page
• A stand alone page
• Remember, the Works Cited page is a list of all of the sources you have used within your essay.

Works Cited

• Works Cited pages are a lot of work!
• That should be enough, right?
• Remember to include your parenthetical or in-text citations as well!

In Text citations

• When you use research when writing, you must also give credit throughout the essay, AS WELL AS AT THE END.
• This can be done in 2 ways:
• Parentheses
• Signal phrase

In Text Citation Example

• When the author’s name is mentioned in the quote, you only need the page number in parentheses. (signal phrase)

As Brooke Helling said, “Students are more successful when they have regular attendance” (36).

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Parenthetical citation

• “Students are more successful when they have regular attendance” (Helling 36).

IMPORTANT!

• I cannot stress this enough!!
• If you use any TYPE OF SOURCE, you must give credit to the author!
• Even if you summarize or paraphrase?
• YES!
• Even if you put it in your own words?
• YES!
• Even if you learned it a long time ago?
• YES!
• Even if you watched it on a movie or heard it in a song?
• YES!

EXTRA IMPORTANT!

• If you have an in-text citation, you should also have a Works Cited entry for the same source.
• Each source has to be listed TWICE!
• Once in the text where you reference it, and once in the Works Cited list.

Formatting

• All essays in this class should be MLA formatted as well. What does that mean?
• There are certain requirements for heading, title, page numbers, and Works Cited Page

Heading

• Will always be flush left.
• Will contain
• Your name
• Course number
• Prof. name
• Date

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Page number

• Should be flush right
• Should contain your last name and page number

Title

• Should be centered on the first page
• Correctly capitalized

Resources

• MLA formatting and citation can be difficult.
• You are not expected to memorize it though!
• Go to Purdue OWL for help with all things MLA:
• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
• Technological Tools: https://youtu.be/OFVdV5axaBc

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Kahoot

• Insert Kahoot link