I did not create this PowerPoint, but am using it for non-profit, educational purposes for the benefit of students.

1. MLA Documentation
In-text citations, citing sources appropriately,
corresponding to the Works Cited

2. When to Cite Sources in the Paper
Whenever you quote from a source.
When borrowing ideas from a source, even when
you use your own words by paraphrasing or
summarizing.
When you borrow factual information from a
source that is not common knowledge.

3. The Common Knowledge Exception
Facts that are widely known and about which there
is no controversy.
IE: Major dates in history, famous people and
their accomplishments (Neil Armstrong/moon),
the Superbowl occurs toward the end of January.
When in doubt, cite the source.

4. The Basics of In-text Citations
As close as possible to the borrowed material,
indicate in parentheses the original source and the
page number in the work that material came from.
Period comes after the parenthesis.
No comma between author and page.
Quotation marks (when directly quoting) are
before the parenthetical citation.

5. Example
From the very beginning of Sesame Street
in 1969, kindergarten teachers discovered
that incoming students who had watched
the program already knew their ABCs
(Chira 13).

6. Example Explicated
The parenthetical tells readers two things:
The info about Sesame Street came from somewhere
other than the writer…in this case Chira.
The ideas came from page 13 in Chira’s work
The full bibliographic information appears on the
Works Cited page at the end of the essay
Chira, Susan. “Sesame Street At 20: Taking Stock.”
New York Times 15 Nov. 1989: 13. Print.

7. Example
“One thing is clear,” writes Thomas
Mallon, “plagiarism didn’t become a
truly sore point with writers until they
thought of writing as their trade […]
Suddenly his capital and identity were
at stake” (3-4).

8. Notices
Author’s last name omitted in parenthesis because
it appeared in the narrative.
Ellipsis […] used when parts of the original
quotation are left out.

9. When there is No Author
Some sources are anonymous
Cite the first word/words that appear on the
Works Cited…typically the article title
Truncate the title if it is long to the first few key
words
Include page number

10. Example of No Author
Example: Simply put, public relations is “doing
good and getting credit” for it (“Getting Yours” 3).
The Works Cited entry is as follows:
“Getting Yours: A Publicity and Funding Primer for
Nonprofit Organizations.” People 32.1 (2002):
3-12.

11. When there are multiple works by the
same author
Parenthetical citation that lists only author and
page number is not enough to distinguish.
Include author’s name, abbreviated title, and page
number.

12. Example of Multiple Works by Same
Author
The thing that distinguishes the amateur from the
experienced writer is focus; one “rides off in all
directions at once,” and the other finds one
meaning around which everything revolves
(Murray, Write to Learn 92).
Notice: a comma between name and title, but no
comma between title and page

13. General Guidelines for Documenting
Sources
Lead-ins
Multiple Authors
No Page Numbers

14. Lead-ins (better known as author tags)
The first time a source is cited, use a narrative
lead-in
Give the author’s full name and credentials
Current title/position, level of expertise,
background
Boosts ethos
Once established, the last name only is sufficient
Lead-in can come at the beginning, the middle, or
the end.

15. Multiple Authors
If source has more than one author, list
them in the same order that appears on
Works Cited
Ex: Herman, Brown, and Martel
predict dramatic changes in the earth’s
climate in the next 200 years.

16. No Page Numbers
Many internet sites don’t have page numbers; DO
NOT NUMBER PAGES YOURSELF.
PDF files often have them, but HTML files don’t
Just list the author or title in the parenthetical.
Will need to take special care when framing
sources that don’t have page #s.

17. Example without Page Numbers
It is now theoretically possible to recreate an identical
creature from any animal or plant by using the DNA
contained in the nucleus of any somatic cell (Thomas).