MLA

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MLA

• Parenthetical Documentation

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Modern Language Association

• The MLA is basically an organization that
  determines standard grammatical practice for
  writers in certain areas. In the English
  department, we follow these guidelines check
  with instructors in other departments to
  determine their style preference.

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Parenthetical Documentation

• The purpose of parenthetical documentation is to
  simplify reading and reference to researched
  material. Instead of having to search around for
  foot or endnotes that give bibliographic
  information, the reader need only look to the end
  of the sentence to find an abbreviated citation
  that refers to a full entry on the Works Cited
  page.

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For example

• According to a 1999 study of teenagers,
  Sixty-three percent of girls and seventy-four
  percent of boys under the age of eighteen had
  tried marijuana or were regular users (Jones
  48).

Jones, Carson R. The American Drug Epidemic.
Boston St. Martins Press, 1999.
The information given at the end of the borrowed
material is just enough to point to the full
citation on the Works Cited page and is placed
strategically to allow for smoother reading.
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MLA Rules

• Words, phrases, and incomplete sentences must be
• worked coherently into your own sentences

Some researchers argue that television before the
age of two is harmful and debilitating,
prolonging the acquisition of unspoken and
spoken cues (Jones 48).
Notice the punctuation and that only the authors
last name and page number appear in parentheses.
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MLA Rules
When quoting a complete sentence or more from a
work, always prepare the quote with an
introductory sentence followed by a colon
Some noted researchers contest the validity of
the studys results In a single-blind study of
such short length, results clearly are not
indicative of the populace at large (Jones 48).
Or a dependent clause or phrase followed by a
comma
According to child psychologist Robert Jones, In
a single-blind study of such short length,
results clearly are not indicative of the
populace at large (48).
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MLA Rules
If a quotation is more than four typed lines, set
it off in block form by indenting ten spaces from
the left margin (extending all the way to the
right margin). Double space, use no quotation
marks, and in this instance, place the final
period before the parenthetical citation
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Although two small studies have produced evidence
to refute Dr. Joness claim, the most respected
studies support his findings While not always
popular with working parents who are too busy
not to set their children in front of Barney
all day, most pediatricians agree that children
should abstain from watching television at
least until age two, and even then, television
time should be limited and closely monitored.
(Wilson 29) As parents, we owe it to our
children to err on the side of caution.
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Use Block Quotes Sparingly
Direct quotes should only be used when the
language they contain is exceptional--the words
the author chooses convey as much to the reader
as their content. Heavy reliance on block quotes
in undergraduate course suggests that the writer
has taken the easy way outheres the
information you decide whats good. One other
point to remember block quotes are not
paragraphs. They begin with a lead-in like all
other quotes and should be followed up by
explicatory information beginning back at the
left margin. Lets look at that block quote one
more time
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Although two small studies have produced evidence
to refute Dr. Joness claim, the most respected
studies support his findings While not always
popular with working parents who are too busy
not to set their children in front of Barney
all day, most pediatricians agree that children
should abstain from watching television at
least until age two, and even then, television
time should be limited and closely monitored.
(Wilson 29) As parents, we owe it to our
children to err on the side of caution.
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MLA Rules
Note all changes you make to direct quotations by
using brackets otherwise, spelling,
capitalization, and interior punctuation must
remain unchanged

• According to Jones, The logic behind his Dr.
  Beaman argument is sound (29).
• According to Jones, The effects of the drug
  were more severe in patients under twelve (27).

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MLA Rules

• Commas and periods go inside quotation marks
  semicolons, colons, and dashes go outside.
  Question marks go inside when the quote is a
  question, outside when your entire sentence is a
  question

Although Watsons theories have been
long-lived, new ideas are born each day (Jones
29).
Watsons theories have been long-lived
however, new ideas are born each day (Jones 29).
Jones asks, Are these rules necessary? (29).
Is her theory that children are receptive to
colors and images only in 30-second intervals
really sound (Jones 29)?
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MLA Rules
If you mention the authors name in the sentence,
put only the page number in parentheses
Richard Jones argues that children should be
allowed to develop in the real world, not the
pseudo-reality of television (29).
Remember that the purpose of parenthetical
documentation is to facilitate reading dont
clutter the sentence with duplicate information.
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MLA Rules
Give the authors of your research some
credibility the first time you use them
subsequently, refer to them by last name only
A child psychologist at Harvard University for
the past twelve years, Dr. Richard Jones argues
that children must be nurtured in reality, not
the fantasy of television (29).
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Online Sources
Citing online sources is a little different
sometimes than printed sources. In parenthetical
citation, refer simply to the author, or to the
major words in the title if the author is
unknown, or, if the original work has
recognizable section breaks or paragraph breaks,
refer to those. Do not follow the pagination of
your printer!
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For Example
In his 1997 article, Jonathan Harris argues that
the Salem witch trials were the manifestation of
overactive imaginations. In his 1997 article,
Jonathan Harris argues that the Salem witch
trials were the manifestation of overactive
imaginations (par. 14). One researcher argues,
The Salem witch trials were the manifestation of
overactive imaginations (Harris). One researcher
argues, The Salem witch trials were the
manifestation of overactive imaginations
(Harris, par. 14).
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More Examples
As the public becomes aware of the importance of
each species on the planet, they exert more
pressure on their representatives to vote
responsibly Endangered species were protected
in the last session of Congress by a five to one
margin (Endangered). As the public becomes
aware of the importance of each species on the
planet, they exert more pressure on their
representatives to vote responsibly Endangered
species were protected in the last session of
Congress by a five to one margin (Endangered,
par. 14).
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Use Quotes to Support
Too many times, we rely too heavily on our
research the sole purpose of using secondary
sources is to back up what you have to say.
Therefore, quoted or paraphrased material will
never begin or end a body paragraph and will
always be introduced and followed-up in your
voice.
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Use Quotes to Support
Not Children must be allowed to develop in
reality, not the fantasy world of television
(Jones 29).
But As parents we often do not realize the harm
of excessive television viewing, but according to
Richard Jones, child psychologist at Harvard
University, Children must be allowed to develop
in reality (29). Without support from parents,
our children cannot be expected to know fiction
from reality.
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Use Quotes to Support
No matter how many quotes or paraphrases you use
in a paragraph, the pattern is always the same
and simply repeats itself with each new piece of
research Topic Sentence Assertion Lead-In to
Quote Quote to Support Assertion Explication of
Quote Conclusion to Paragraph
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Samples
One researcher concludes that boys develop more
slowly than girls (Jones 29). Researcher Joshua
Jones argues that boys develop more slowly than
girls (29). As Jones and Williams observe,
Girls are more likely to acquire speech before
boys of the same age (36). According to one
study, Girls are more likely to acquire speech
before boys of the same age (Jones and Williams
36).
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Samples
One study concludes that girls generally learn to
speak before boys their age (Jones and Williams
36). An article in Time points out that comparing
childrens skills is often hurtful to the child
and to the parent (Children 44). William Boyd
urges, Each child needs to be cherished for his
achievements (qtd. in Frazier 28). Two recent
studies reveal that middle children are often
the ones who are rule followers (Jones 29 Hall
43).
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Practice!
Take a part of this research and lead into,
incorporate gracefully, and follow-up as borrowed
material. Every poll taken in the United States
has shown that the majority of registered voters
agree that medical marijuana should be legal if
prescribed by a physician. The two most dramatic
expressions of this have been the resolutions
passed by voters in San Francisco and later in
Santa Cruz, CA. The initiatives passed by a
margin of 79.7 and 78.6 percent. --Ed
Rosenthal. California Medical-Marijuana
Initiative. High Times. 1992. lthttp//www.hightim
es.com/ht/mag/o604.htmlgt
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For Example
More and more people accept the premise that
marijuana should be legalized. If voters in San
Francisco and Santa Cruz are any indication, The
majority of registered voters agree that medical
marijuana should be legal if prescribed by a
physician (Rosenthal 2). Maybe Americans should
resist their knee-jerk responses and investigate
the matter on a purely scientific basis.
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Practice!
Take a part of this research and lead into,
incorporate gracefully, and follow-up as borrowed
material. Every poll taken in the United States
has shown that the majority of registered voters
agree that medical marijuana should be legal if
prescribed by a physician. The two most dramatic
expressions of this have been the resolutions
passed by voters in San Francisco and later in
Santa Cruz, CA. The initiatives passed by a
margin of 79.7 and 78.6 percent. --Ed
Rosenthal. California Medical-Marijuana
Initiative. High Times. 1992. lthttp//www.hightim
es.com/ht/mag/o604.htmlgt
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Peck Hall 325 and 326 904-8237 uwcenter_at_mtsu.edu h
ttp//www.mtsu.edu/uwcenter Hours MondayThurs
day 830630 Friday 8303 Saturday 101