This document provides instructions for using in-text citations in MLA style. It explains that in-text citations are used to give credit to words or ideas from other sources and includes examples of citing direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries. The examples show the proper punctuation to use for in-text citations and how to format the corresponding full citations in a works cited list. Special cases for citing sources without page numbers or from the internet are also covered.

1. Stacy Cameron Prosper High School 2011 In-Text Citations MLA Style

2. We use in-text citations to give credit to words or ideas expressed by others We give credit for : direct quotes paraphrasing summarizing

3. An example… The author uses imagery to express the joy felt by the old man when he says, “His smile was so wide he’d have to break it into sections of fit it through a doorway” (Spinelli 102). Punctuation comes AFTER the last parenthesis There is no comma after the author’s name and no “p” for page number. The in-text citation directs the reader to the full citation in the works cited portion of your research paper. Full MLA-style citation Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee . New York: Scholastic, 1991. Print.

4. When the quotation has important punctuation in it that changes the meaning if omitted The old man in Spinelli’s Maniac Magee exclaims, “I’m reading!” (102). Notice…there is still a closing punctuation mark after the citation Special circumstances!

5. Why does only the page number appear in this citation? Citing the author this way – in the sentence itself, accomplishes two things: It gives credit to the author It varies sentence structure which makes for more interesting reading

6. Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name). You do not need to give paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function. Unless you must list the website name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like CNN.com or Forbes.com as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com. What about citing Internet sources? Obtained from Online Writing Lab at Purdue

7. A sentence in your paper: Online film critic, Garcia , stated that Fitzcarraldo is "...a beautiful and terrifying critique of obsession and colonialism.” The citation in your Works Cited: Garcia , Elizabeth. "Herzog: a Life." Online Film Critics Corner . The Film School of New Hampshire, 2 May 2002. Web. 8 Jan. 2009. In your paper. No ( ) because author name is stated in sentence Example!

8. Visit the OWL at Purdue for a detailed explanation of citing sources as well as fantastic examples!

9. A citation is not needed when stating something that is considered common knowledge

10. Photo Credits Paper Weaving by FeatheredTar: http://www.flickr.com/photos/featheredtar/2302651444/ Worlds of Informatin by FeatheredTar: http://www.flickr.com/photos/featheredtar/2301854041/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/29198100@N00/5253428458/ by gamillos Microsoft Office images