This document provides guidelines for using MLA style, including setting up the basic format for papers with MLA style, how to incorporate in-text citations, and how to create a Works Cited page. It covers the proper ways to cite different sources like books, articles, and websites within the body of the paper and in the Works Cited list. The document aims to teach writers how to properly attribute sources and establish credibility when writing research papers or essays using MLA style.

1. USING MLA STYLE:
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Brought to you by the Learning Commons

2. 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

3. Here’s what we’ll cover:
 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; i.e.,
McNair 2

5. What should I cite?
 “Unique words or phrases” - use sparingly
 Paraphrases and summaries

6. Quotes
 “Quotation” (Author page number).
 One of McNair’s grading criteria includes, “title
and author stated in first sentence,” (1) which
will be examined in a later slide.

7. Paraphrases, summaries
With an author
In Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass
Castle, the author depicts a childhood filled
with dysfunction and chaos.
No author
“Children of Alcoholics” examines the
developmental and psychological effects that
children experience.

8. 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

9. Creating Works Cited
 Separate page, end of paper
 Include both works referenced in your paper
 Label it Works Cited (centered)
 Double space both entries
 Alphabetized by last name – don’t reorder
names!

10. Citing a Book
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of
Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Medium.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New
York: Scribner, 2005. Print.

11. Popular Magazine - online
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”
Journal Title. Date of Publication. Database.
Medium. Date of Access.
Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.”
Parenting. 1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web.
19 Oct. 2012.

12. Article from an Academic
Journal
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal
Title volume, issue (year): pages(s). Database
Name. Medium. Date of access.
“Children of Alcoholics.” International
Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. (2003).
Credo Reference. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

13. Newspaper Article - online
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”
Newspaper Title. Date of Publication.
Database. Medium. Date of Access.
Sullivan Jr., Bishop. "Why Can't We Declare a
War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug.
2012. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

14. Works Cited
“Children of Alcoholics.” International Encyclopedia
of Marriage and Family. (2003). Credo Reference.
Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.” Parenting.
1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Sullivan Jr., Bishop, et al. "Why Can't We Declare a
War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug. 2012.
NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York:
Scribner, 2005. Print.

15. Want More Info?
 Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual, Sixth
Ed.
 Class LibGuide
 MLA Citation Website
 Learning Center – tutors and academic coach