This document provides an overview of MLA citation style. It explains that citing sources is important to avoid plagiarism and to give proper credit to ideas and words borrowed from other works. It should be done anytime a student summarizes, paraphrases, or quotes another author's work. The document also reviews MLA guidelines for formatting in-text citations, works cited entries for different source types like books and websites, and emphasizes following the instructor's guidelines.

1. MLA STYLE – 7TH
EDITION
Hoffman Family Library
http://www.goodwin.edu/library

2. SO WHAT? WHY SHOULD I CITE?
Citing identifies and credits sources used in a
research paper or project. This allows others to
follow-up on or retrieve this material.
When you borrow from other sources to support your
argument or research you must give proper credit.
By crediting your sources, you avoid plagiarism. If
you do not cite a source, you are guilty of
plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating or stealing. It is the
unacknowledged use or adoption of another
person’s words or ideas.

3. WHEN SHOULD I CITE?
Many students plagiarize unintentionally. Remember,
whenever you summarize, paraphrase or quote
another author's material you must properly credit
your source.
If you are using another person’s idea, you must also
cite your source!
When in doubt, give
credit to your source!

4. MLA STYLE GUIDE
 Titles for books, web sites, and databases are
italicized, not underlined
 No longer include URLs for web pages or
databases unless required by your professor
 Must include the format of publication (print, web)

5. WHICH OF THESE IS WRITTEN IN MLA?
A B

6. YOUR INSTRUCTOR KNOWS BEST
#1 Rule for any formatting style:
Always
Follow your instructor’s
guidelines

7. FORMATTING YOUR PAPER

8. WHAT IS AN IN-TEXT CITATION
References to an author and page number inside
your paper.
They always correspond to what’s on your Works
Cited list!
They are found in parentheses, inside your paper,
and can look like the examples below:
(Smith 14) or (14)

9. IN-TEXT (PARENTHETICAL) CITATION
If the author’s name is included in the text, then add the page numbers
for the source in parenthesis at the end of the sentence or quotation (MLA
Handbook 216-217; A Writer’s Resource 289-297).
Example A:
Cross writes that Austen’s writing has both the “humor and technique of a
Shakespearean comedy” (28).
Example B:
Cross (28) writes that Austen’s writing has both the “humor and technique of
a Shakespearean comedy”.

10. Citing a Book
Book:
Diorio, Mary Ann L. A Student’s Guide to Nathaniel
Hawthorne. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow
Publishers, 2004. Print.
Ebook:
Miller, Edward Haviland. Salem is My Dwelling Place:
A Life of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Iowa City: University
of Iowa Press, 1991. Ebrary. Web. 2 Nov. 2005.

11. WEBSITE FORMAT
Title of Web Page. Sponsor of Site, date of
publication. Web.Date of access.
(If no date of publication- use n.d.)
Nathaniel Hawthorne Society. Lee Person, 9 Sept.
2005. Web. 28 July 2009.
Civil War Homepage. n.d. Web. 5 Aug 2009.

12. I STILL NEED HELP!!!!
Citing and Writing Guides
MLA Citation Libguide
Ask one of your librarians! We are here to help!