USING MLA STYLE:
     GENERAL GUIDELINES


Brought to you by the Learning Commons
What is MLA Style?

   Created by the Modern Language
    Association
   Provides writers with credibility
   Protects writers from accusations of
    plagiarism
   Allows writers to cross-reference sources
   Allows readers to easily locate source
    material
Here’s what we’ll cover:

   Basic format
   In-text citations
   Works Cited page
Basic Format
   1” inch margins all around
   12 point font, Times New Roman or Arial
   Double spaced
   Identification in upper left corner of first page
   Use a running header to number pages in top
    right hand corner, include your last name
    Hartzel 2
What should I cite?
   Paraphrases and summaries
   “Unique words or phrases”
       no direct quotes for this assignment, please!
Paraphrases, summaries
Elements:

Author + signal phrase + summary (page
number).

                    -or-

Signal phrase + Author + summary (page
number).
Paraphrases, summaries
With an author – Right!
    Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to
Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a
lead role relocating Japanese Americans from
internment camps (1).

With an author – Wrong!
    Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to
Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a
lead role relocating Japanese Americans from
internment camps (Nakano1).
Paraphrases, summaries
No author – Right!
   “Election Officers Visit Internment Camps”
examines the potential votes that will be cast by
people living in internment camps (13-14).

No author – Wrong!
    “Election Officers Visit Internment Camps”
examines the potential votes that will be cast by
people living in internment camps (“Election” 13-
14).
Signal Phrases
   acknowledges            disputes
   admits                  emphasizes
   agrees                  insists
   argues                  notes
   claims                  observes
   contends                suggests
   denies                  writes

                    Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Fourth Edition
Quotes

Elements:
Signal phrase + Author + “quotation” + (page
number) + your own words.

     One of McNair’s grading criteria includes,
“summary states title and author in first sentence,”
(2) which will be examined in a later slide.

  Note: please don’t use direct quotes in this
                 assignment
Creating Works Cited
   Separate page, end of paper
   Include both works referenced in your paper
   Label it Works Cited (centered)
   Double spaced
   Alphabetized by last name – don’t reorder
    names!
       No author? Alphabetize by title of article
Article from Database
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal
  Title volume.issue (year): pages. Database
  Name. Medium. Date of access.

“Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia.
(2008).
  Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
Popular Magazine - online

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”
  Journal Title. Date of Publication. Database.
  Medium. Date of Access.

Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger.
 "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval
 History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE
 Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
Newspaper Article - online
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”
  Newspaper Title. Date of Publication.
  Database. Medium. Date of Access.

"Joe Sixpack: How Prohibition Played Out in
  Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at
  Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily News.
  18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
Works Cited
"Joe Sixpack: How Prohibition Played Out in
  Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at
  Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily
  News.      18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web.
  22 Oct. 2012.
Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger.
  "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval
  History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE
  Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
“Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia.
(2008).
   Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
Want More Info?
   Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual, Sixth
    Ed.
   Class LibGuide
   MLA Citation Website
   Learning Center – tutors and academic coach

MLA Spring 2013 HACC

  • 1.
    USING MLA STYLE: GENERAL GUIDELINES Brought to you by the Learning Commons
  • 2.
    What is MLAStyle?  Created by the Modern Language Association  Provides writers with credibility  Protects writers from accusations of plagiarism  Allows writers to cross-reference sources  Allows readers to easily locate source material
  • 3.
    Here’s what we’llcover:  Basic format  In-text citations  Works Cited page
  • 4.
    Basic Format  1” inch margins all around  12 point font, Times New Roman or Arial  Double spaced  Identification in upper left corner of first page  Use a running header to number pages in top right hand corner, include your last name Hartzel 2
  • 5.
    What should Icite?  Paraphrases and summaries  “Unique words or phrases”  no direct quotes for this assignment, please!
  • 6.
    Paraphrases, summaries Elements: Author +signal phrase + summary (page number). -or- Signal phrase + Author + summary (page number).
  • 7.
    Paraphrases, summaries With anauthor – Right! Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a lead role relocating Japanese Americans from internment camps (1). With an author – Wrong! Nancy Nakano’s article, “From Internment to Indiana,” portrays how an Indiana church took a lead role relocating Japanese Americans from internment camps (Nakano1).
  • 8.
    Paraphrases, summaries No author– Right! “Election Officers Visit Internment Camps” examines the potential votes that will be cast by people living in internment camps (13-14). No author – Wrong! “Election Officers Visit Internment Camps” examines the potential votes that will be cast by people living in internment camps (“Election” 13- 14).
  • 9.
    Signal Phrases  acknowledges  disputes  admits  emphasizes  agrees  insists  argues  notes  claims  observes  contends  suggests  denies  writes Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Fourth Edition
  • 10.
    Quotes Elements: Signal phrase +Author + “quotation” + (page number) + your own words. One of McNair’s grading criteria includes, “summary states title and author in first sentence,” (2) which will be examined in a later slide. Note: please don’t use direct quotes in this assignment
  • 11.
    Creating Works Cited  Separate page, end of paper  Include both works referenced in your paper  Label it Works Cited (centered)  Double spaced  Alphabetized by last name – don’t reorder names!  No author? Alphabetize by title of article
  • 12.
    Article from Database LastName, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title volume.issue (year): pages. Database Name. Medium. Date of access. “Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2008). Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
  • 13.
    Popular Magazine -online Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access. Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger. "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
  • 14.
    Newspaper Article -online Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access. "Joe Sixpack: How Prohibition Played Out in Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily News. 18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
  • 15.
    Works Cited "Joe Sixpack:How Prohibition Played Out in Philadelphia - 'Last Call' Author to Speak at Constitution Center." Philadelphia Daily News. 18 Oct. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. Parshall, Jonathan and Michael J. Wenger. "Pearl Harbor's Overlooked Answer." Naval History. 13 Dec. 2011. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. “Ray Charles.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2008). Credo Reference. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
  • 16.
    Want More Info?  Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual, Sixth Ed.  Class LibGuide  MLA Citation Website  Learning Center – tutors and academic coach