MLA Formatting/ Incorporating Information/ Citations/Works Cited
MLA FORMATTING
Paper Format
Three basic tools:
Please remember that ALL THREE REQUIRE PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS. A properly incorporated quote, paraphrase, or summary includes an introduction, the information from the text, a properly punctuated citation, AND YOUR COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR"S WORDS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO YOUR TOPIC.
QUOTES
PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS
This is important enough to write again: A properly incorporated quote, paraphrase, or summary includes an introduction, the information from the text, a properly punctuated citation, AND YOUR COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR"S WORDS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO YOUR TOPIC.
1. Always introduce the quote.
2. If it is a direct quote, use beginning and ending quotation marks.
3. If you are paraphrasing or summarizing, you still need to cite your source.
4. Always cite the quote using parentheses, author’s last name and pg #. In the case there is no author, use a shortened version of the title (the first 3-4 words of the title). If it is a short piece (like an article), the title is in quotation marks; if it is a long piece (like a book or journal) the title is italicized.
5. When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it’s a short work, or italicize it if it’s a longer work.
6. If your quote is more than 4 lines long, you must indent the entire quote three times.
7. Period are placed after the parenthetical citation, however question marks, commas, and exclamation points are placed within the quotation marks followed by a period after the parenthetical citation.
8. Always explain the information you use.
WORKS CITED
The Basic Format and Rules
1. The Works Cited is its own page and must have the title centered at the top. See the example for assistance.
2. Include a header on the right-hand side. (Your last name and appropriate page number.)
3. Double-space the page.
4. Indent the second line of the citation. This is called a hanging indent.
5. Put the citations in alphabetical order.
6. Use italics instead of underlining for titles of larger works (books, epic poetry, and plays).
7. Capitalize each major word in the titles of articles, books, etc.
8. Omit the URL.
9. State the medium of publication (Print, Web, etc.).
Other sites that have information in MLA formatting:
Purdue OWL
MLA FORMATTING
Paper Format
- Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper,
- Double-space the text of your paper, and use Times New Roman. The font size should be 12 pt.
- Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. Indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch (five spaces or press tab once) from the left margin.
- Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin and make sure the header includes your last name. (McClure 1)
- In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
- Double space again and center the title. Don’t underline your title or put it in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case, not in all capital letters.
- Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of major works.
- Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.
Three basic tools:
- Summary – Summarize large chunks of what you read by recording the general idea of the material. Remember to record the page numbers (if applicable) where you found the information.
- Paraphrase – Read the work and restate all of the material in your own words. Remember to record the page numbers.
- Quotation – If what the speaker or author said was important in the exact order that he or she stated it, record the sentence(s) word-for-word as a direct quotation. Remember to put quotation marks around the sentence(s) to remind you later that it is a direct quotation. If you copy and paste phrases from an article, you should put quotation marks around what you copied to remind yourself that it’s a direct quote. Record the page numbers so that you will have them when completing the Works Cited page.
Please remember that ALL THREE REQUIRE PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS. A properly incorporated quote, paraphrase, or summary includes an introduction, the information from the text, a properly punctuated citation, AND YOUR COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR"S WORDS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO YOUR TOPIC.
QUOTES
- Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source’s ideas, you place the author’s last name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s). ** Parenthetical citations can vary depending on what information is included in the introduction of the quote. If you are writing the source’s ideas word for word, you MUST include quotation marks around those words; if you are summarizing or paraphrasing, you do NOT use quotation marks. Either way, you MUST include parenthetical citation.
- To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page citation (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the text, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.
- Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.
- For quotations that are four or more lines of verse or prose: place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the first line of the quotation by a half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.
PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS
This is important enough to write again: A properly incorporated quote, paraphrase, or summary includes an introduction, the information from the text, a properly punctuated citation, AND YOUR COMMENTARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR"S WORDS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO YOUR TOPIC.
1. Always introduce the quote.
2. If it is a direct quote, use beginning and ending quotation marks.
3. If you are paraphrasing or summarizing, you still need to cite your source.
4. Always cite the quote using parentheses, author’s last name and pg #. In the case there is no author, use a shortened version of the title (the first 3-4 words of the title). If it is a short piece (like an article), the title is in quotation marks; if it is a long piece (like a book or journal) the title is italicized.
5. When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it’s a short work, or italicize it if it’s a longer work.
6. If your quote is more than 4 lines long, you must indent the entire quote three times.
7. Period are placed after the parenthetical citation, however question marks, commas, and exclamation points are placed within the quotation marks followed by a period after the parenthetical citation.
8. Always explain the information you use.
WORKS CITED
The Basic Format and Rules
1. The Works Cited is its own page and must have the title centered at the top. See the example for assistance.
2. Include a header on the right-hand side. (Your last name and appropriate page number.)
3. Double-space the page.
4. Indent the second line of the citation. This is called a hanging indent.
5. Put the citations in alphabetical order.
6. Use italics instead of underlining for titles of larger works (books, epic poetry, and plays).
7. Capitalize each major word in the titles of articles, books, etc.
8. Omit the URL.
9. State the medium of publication (Print, Web, etc.).
Other sites that have information in MLA formatting:
Purdue OWL