The document provides an overview of MLA citation style basics, including how to cite sources parenthetically in the body of an essay and how to create a Works Cited page listing all sources. It discusses direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries and how to properly cite each. Examples are given for citing different source types like books, articles, websites, and audiovisual materials. Key aspects of MLA style such as only using 10% direct quotes and no more than 25% of the paper being from research sources are also covered.

1. Information from English Professor Stephanie Zerkel and the library staff @
Maple Woods
Created by Ms.

2. Basics

When using MLA Style, you cite sources in two
places in your essay:
 Parenthetically
in the body of your essay after you
use information taken from a source
 On the Works Cited page, where you list all of the
sources you used in your essay.

3. Basics

MLA requires you to cite a source
whenever you:
 use
an original idea derived from a source,
whether it is quoted or paraphrased
 summarize original ideas by a source
 use factual information that is not common
knowledge
 *COMMON
KNOWLEDGE is information that recurs in
source after source or is widely known.
 use
any exact wording copied from a source

4. Basics

Direct Quote
A
direct, word-for-word copy of statements taken
from a source. This is information that is NOT in
quotation marks in the original source.

Indirect Quote
A
word-for-word copy of statements taken from a
source that are from someone other than the
author of that work. This IS information that IS in
quotation marks in the original source and tells
who said that information.

5. Basics

Paraphrase
 When
you restate information you read in a
source.
 NOTE:
you need to completely rewrite the information
into your own words. Do not just change a few words
or adjust the order of the words.
 REMEMBER: you still have to give the author credit
for that information.

6. Basics

Summary
A
condensed version of the main ideas in a
reading.
 The major difference between a paraphrase and
a summary is the amount of original information
you start with.
 In
a paraphrase, the original work and your
paraphrase will be about the same length.
 In a summary, the original work could be the entire
article from a magazine or chapter from a book that
you summarize in a couple of sentences.

7. Basics




Only 10% of your research should be quoted
in your essay; the rest of your research should
be paraphrased.
For a shorter research paper, you should avoid
the use of long quotes (more than four lines
typed).
In longer papers, use of long quotes should
still be limited.
No more than 25% of your total paper should
be research. Which means that at least 75%
must be your own thoughts and ideas.

8. Example

In-Text Citation

Introducing the author before the quote:


Not introducing the author before the quote:


Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as
“symbol-using animals” (3).
Human beings have been described as “symbol-using
animals” (Burke 3).
Works Cited

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life,
Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, 1966. Print.

The U of California P means University of California Press

9. More Examples

Sources with more than one author
 Introducing
with authors’ names:
 James,
Smith and Brown said the work of Monet
“epitomizes the style of impressionist artwork” (345).
 Without
 The
introducing the authors’ names:
work of Monet “epitomizes the style of
impressionist artwork” (James, Smith and Brown 345).

10. More Examples
 IF
a source is NOT printed, you will not have a
page number.
 James,
Smith and Brown said the work of Monet
“epitomizes the style of impressionist artwork” (345).
 The work of Monet “epitomizes the style of
impressionist artwork” (James, Smith and Brown).
 Sources
with four or more authors
 List
only the first author’s last name and add the
abbreviation et al

“… artwork” (James et al. 345).

11. Even More Examples

If you have two sources by the same author, you
need to indicate which work the information you
are using comes from.
 “The
German foxholes dug during World War II were
almost always deeper than the American foxholes”
(Ambrose, Citizen Soldier 257).
 Ambrose,
John. Citizen Soldier. New York: Little Brown, 1953.
Print.
 Ambrose, John. World War II. New York: Longman, 1956. Print.

12. Even More Examples

Indirect Source
 Desmond
Tutu, speaking of the struggle against
South African apartheid, said “Our cause is just
and noble. That is why it will prevail and bring
victory to us” (qtd. in duBoulay 223).

13. Changes for 2009

No More Underlining!
 Italicize
 Books,

titles of independently published works
periodicals, films, etc.
No More URLS!
 However,
include the URL if the citation does not
easily lead the reader to the source.

Include Publication Medium for EVERY
source!
 Every
entry receives a medium of publication
marker. Most will be listed as Print or Web, but
may also include Performance, DVD or TV.

14. More Changes

New Abbreviations!
 Many
web source entries now require a publisher
name, a date of publication, and/or page
numbers.
 When
no publisher name appears on the website,
write N.p. for no publisher given
 When sites omit a date of publication,
write n.d. for no date of publication
 For online journals that appear only online (no print
version) or on databases that do not provide
pagination,
write n. pag. for no pagination

15. Works Cited Examples - Books

Single Author


Multiple Authors


Tannen, Deborah. You’re Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers
and Daughters in Conversation. New York: Random House,
2006. Print.
Harmon, Deborah A., and Toni Stokes Jones. Elementary Education:
A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2005. Print.
Work in an Anthology

Berger, Arthur Asa. “Humor and Ethnicity.” The Guide to United
States Popular Culture. Ed. Ray B. Browne and Pat Browne.
Bowling Green: Bowling Green State University Popular Press,
2001. 419. Print.

16. Works Cited Examples Periodicals

Magazine Article


Journal Article


Klosterman, Chuck. “Invention‟s New Mother.” Esquire Mar. 2006:
124-126. Print.
McDonnell, Janet A. “World War II: Defending Park Values and
Resources.” The Public Historian 29.4 (2007): 15-33. Print.
Newspaper Article

Tammeus, Bill. “Attorney Renews His Fight Against „Under God‟ in
Allegiance Pledge.” Kansas City Star 3 Apr. 2006: A1. Print.

17. Works Cited Examples – Online
Databases

To document information from an online database,
it is necessary first to determine the origin of the
material.
Was it originally an article from a magazine, journal or
newspaper?
 A book or a portion of a book?
 A primary source such as a court decision, legislation,
or treaty?
 Or could it be an item unique or original to that
database?


Keep in mind that more than one type of material can be
found in a given database. For example some databases
may have book excerpts as well as magazine articles.

18. Online Databases Continued




Begin by citing the material according to its
type (book, journal or magazine article, etc.)
Then complete the citation by stating:
- title of the database (italicized)
- medium of publication (Web)
- date of access (day, month, year)

19. More Online Databases

MAGAZINES

To cite magazine articles



Alter, Jonathan. “One Nation Under Medicare.” Newsweek 29
June 2009: 24. General OneFile. Web. 8 July 2009.
JOURNALS
To cite journal articles

Huisman, Kimberly and Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo. “Dress
Matters: Change and Continuity in the Dress Practices of
Bosnian Muslim Refugee Women.” Gender and Society 19.1
(2005): 44-65. JSTOR. Web. 15 Aug. 2009.

JSTOR is an online database of journal storage

20. More Online Databases

NEWSPAPERS
 To
cite newspapers
 Najourney, Adam.
“If Presidency Is Goal, Palin Has Chosen
a Risky Route.” New York Times 5 July 2009: A14.
InfoTrac Custom Newspapers. Web. 11 July 2009.

21. More Online Databases

BOOKS
A

Part of an Online Book
Devine, Miranda. “Commercial Surrogacy Puts Children at Risk.” At
Issue: Reproductive Technology. Ed. Cindy Mur. San Diego:
Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
Web. 18 Apr. 2009.
 Entire

Book
Pustz, Matthew. Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers.
Jackson: UP of Mississippi, 1999. NetLibrary. Web. 18 May 2009.

22. Web Sites

Multiple components may be included in the
citation of web sites. Include as many as are
available and applicable in the order given. If
you can’t find basic information on your
site, such as the author or the date of
publication or update, it probably isn’t a
credible source.
 Credible
sites will NOT end in .com
 They usually end in .edu, .gov or .org
 You
need to make sure that even sites with these
designations are credible and appropriate.

23. Web Sites

The basic format for Web citations is:
 1.
name of the author or editor
 2. title of the work
 3. title of the Web site, italicized
 4. version or edition
 5. publisher or sponsor of the site (use N.p. if not
available)
 6. date of publication (use n.d. if not available)
 7. medium of publication (Web)
 8. date of access (day, month, year)

24. Web Site Citation Examples

Individual Author


Corporate (Group) Author


Keegan, Paul. “Coming Out of Retirement at 62.” CNNMoney.com.
Cable News Network, 22 June 2009. Web. 25 June 2009.
Humane Society of the United States. “More Than 200 Dogs
Rescued from Penn. Puppy Mill.” Humane Society of the United
States. 25 June 2009. Web. 1 Aug. 2009.
Government Site

United States Dept. of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Urban and
Regional Planners.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09
Edition. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14 Apr. 2007. Web. 25 Jan.
2009.

25. More Web Site Citation
Examples




Article from a Newspaper Website
Weiser, Benjamin. “In ‟98, Hints from Sotomayor on Death
Penalty.” New York Times. New York Times, 24 June 2009.
Web. 25 June 2009.
Article in an Online Magazine
Reich, Robert. “Why Critics of a Public Option for Healthcare are
Wrong.” Salon.com. Salon Media Group, 24 June 2009. Web.
29 June 2009.

Entire Web Site

Flanagan, Debbie. Researching Companies Online. N.p., 30 Apr.
2004. Web. 18 May 2009.

26. Sample Paper

www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-DalyMLA.pdf
 Format
 Signal
words/phrases
 Quotation examples
 Paraphrase examples
 Examples of parenthetical citations
 Works Cited Page
 Lists
sources used
 Format