An Introduction to MLA Citation Style

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An Introduction to MLA Citation Style
http//rhslibrary.org/ppt/MLA_Style_Intro.ppt
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Introduction to MLA Citation WorkshopAgenda

• Reasons for providing citations
• How to cite resources in MLA format
• Printed Books
• Articles in Periodicals
• Electronic and Internet sources

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Intro to MLA CitationWhy Provide Citations?

• To allow readers to reference your sources easily
• To give you credibility as a writer/creator
• To protect yourself from plagiarism

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Intro to MLA CitationCiting resources in MLA
format

• Modern Language Association format is used by
  English and Humanities students and scholars
• Two basic features of MLA style
• In the text of your paper
• Include the author or title and page citation for
  each source
• At the end of your paper
• Create list on a new page titled Works Cited.
• Include all sources used in your paper
• Alphabetized by authors last name or title if
  author is unknown

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Intro to MLA CitationWhats in a Citation?

• Generally any print resource you use has an
  author or creator, a title, a place of
  publication, a publisher, the date it was
  published, and the medium of the source.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of
bbb Secrets. New York Scholastic, 1999. Print.

• Note the following
• Not every item has an author (or editor). If
  there is no author then start with the title of
  the work.
• The title of the item is italicized.
  (alternatively, it can be underlined).
• Note the punctuation period follows author,
  title, date, and medium. Colon follows place and
  comma separates publisher from date.
• The second and following lines are indented
  (hanging indent) in the Works Cited list.

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Intro to MLA CitationCiting Periodicals
(Magazines Newspapers)

• Magazine and newspaper articles have an author or
  creator, an article title, the title of the
  magazine or newspaper, the date it was published,
  pages, and the medium. For a Web resource the
  database or source and the date of access is also
  required.

Greenblatt, Alan. Impact of the Internet on
bbbThinking. CQ Researcher. 20.33 (2010)
773-bbb796. CQ Researcher. Web. 8 Oct. 2010.

• Note the following
• Not every article has an author. If there is no
  author then start with the title of the article.
  Do not put Anonymous.
• The title of the article is in quotes (). The
  title of the periodical is italicized.
  (alternatively, it can be underlined).
• If the periodical has continuous pagination
  (paging continues from issue to issue) provide
  the volume and number instead of the date.
• For all online references include the date you
  accessed the information.

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Intro to MLA CitationCiting Web Sites

• Start with the author or creator (if there is
  one), then web site title, a publisher or
  sponsoring institution, date it was published or
  produced, the medium, and the date of access.
  Optional URL

Halsall, Paul, ed. Internet Modern History
Sourcebook. bbbbFordham U, 22 Sept. 2001. Web. 8
Oct. 2010. bbbblthttp//www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod
/modsbook.htmlgt.

• Note the following
• Not every Web page has an author. If there is no
  author then start with the title of the Web page.
  Sometimes the author is a group such as United
  States. Environmental Protection Agency.
• The title of the Web page is italicized.
  (alternatively, it can be underlined).
• If the Web page is part of a larger Web site put
  the Web page title in quotes and the Web site in
  italics.
• The URL is optional depending on the requirements
  of your teacher. If provided, it goes at the very
  end of the citation.

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Intro to MLA CitationCitation Creators Other
Helpful Resources 1

• Print and Online Guidelines for Citations
• Under Help with Citations on the librarys home
  page there are links to several online citation
  tools. One of those links is to
• EasyBib
• I like EasyBib for online creation of citations
  and notes. But do be careful, its by no means
  foolproof. lthttp//www.easybib.comgt
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
  online
• lt http//mlahandbook.org/private/fragment/private_
  indexgt
• Email address library_at_redwood.org Password
  giants

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Intro to MLA CitationCitation Creators Other
Helpful Resources 2

• Database Citation Creators
• Many subscription databases have tools to help
  with making proper citations in various formats.
• MS Word 2007 and 2010
• References tab allows for the creation of
  citations and bibliographies/works cited lists.

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Intro to MLA CitationSummary Recommended
Resources

• Questions or Comments
• Recommended MLA References
• dianahacker.com The Official Web Site for Diana
  Hacker Handbooks. Bedford/St. Martins, 2008.
  Web. 14 Oct. 2008.
• Documenting Sources A Hacker Handbook
  Supplement. Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. Web. 14
  Oct. 2008.
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide. Online Writing
  Lab, Purdue U, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008.
• Modern Language Association. Home page. Modern
  Language Association, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008.
• Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook For Writers of
  Research Papers New York Modern Language
  Association, 2003. Print.
• Sebranek, Patrick. Writers INC. 7th ed.
  Wilmington, Mass. Write Source, 2009. Print.

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Intro to MLA CitationAcknowledgements

• This slideshow is adapted from one produced by
  the Writing Center at Minot State University (ND)

MLA Workshop Presentation. Minot State
University Writing bbbCenter. 2008? Web. 7 Oct.
2008. ltwww.minotstateu.edu bbb/writingcenter/pdf/M
LA_Workshop_Presentation.pptgt