MLA Citation Workshop: Aiming toward
the College-Level Paper
Bessie Chin Library
Redwood High School
Adapted by K. Cady, 8 September 2011
MLA Citation Workshop
Agenda
Purpose
• Reasons for providing citations?
• How to cite resources in MLA
format
In-text
• Printed Books
• Printed Articles in Periodicals
Works Cited
• Electronic and Internet sources
MLA Citation Workshop
Why Provide Citations?
• To allow readers to reference your sources
easily
• To give you credibility as a writer/creator
• To protect yourself from plagiarism
MLA Citation Workshop
Citing resources in MLA format
• Modern Language Association format is used by
English and Humanities students
• 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 author’s last name or title if author is
unknown
• Sample MLA-formatted paper. (dianahacker.com)
• Since there are some recent changes to MLA style,
they have been highlighted in red in this
presentation.
MLA Citation Workshop
In-Text Citation: Printed Material 1
• Author named in Text
Ex: One driver, Peter Cohen, says that after he was rearended, the guilty party emerged from his vehicle still talking
on the phone (127).
• Author named in Parentheses
Ex: Most states do not keep adequate records on the number
of times cell phones are a factor in accidents; as of
December 2000, only ten states were trying to keep such
records (Sundeen 2).
MLA Citation Workshop
In-Text Citation: Printed Material 2
• Author Unknown
Ex: As of 2001, at least three hundred towns and
municipalities had considered legislation regulating use of
cell phones while driving ("Lawmakers" 2).
• Page Number Unknown
Ex: The California Highway Patrol opposes restrictions on the
use of phones while driving, claiming that distracted drivers
can already be prosecuted (Jacobs).
Ex: According to Jacobs, the California Highway Patrol opposes
restrictions on the use of phones while driving, claiming that
distracted drivers can already be prosecuted.
MLA Citation Workshop
In-Text: Electronic and Internet Sources
• Author named in Introductory Phase
Ex: Hatchuel discusses how film editing “can change points of
view and turn objectivity into subjectivity.”
• Author named in Parentheses
Ex: Film editing provides us with different perceptions of reality
(Hatchuel).
• Author Unknown
Ex: A list of frequently asked questions about documentation
and up-to-date instructions on how to cite online sources in
MLA format can be found on the association’s Web site
(MLA).
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Printed Books 1
•
Single Author
Author. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Tan, Amy. The Bonesetter's Daughter. New York: Putnam,
2001. Print.
•
Two or Three Authors
Reverse the name of the first author (last name, first name)
Rowe, Richard, and Larry Jeffus. The Essential Welder: Gas
MetalArc Welding Classroom Manual. Albany:
Delmar, 2000. Print.
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Printed Books 2
•
Three or more Authors
If there are more than three authors, name only the first and
add et al., or give all the names.
Sloan, Frank A., et al.
Sloan, Frank A., Emily M. Stout, Kathryn Whetten-Goldstein,
and Lan Liang.
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Articles in Print Periodicals
• Magazine Articles
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Date: Page(s). Print.
Talcott, Richard. "Great Comets." Astronomy May 2004:
36-41. Print.
If no author's name is given, begin with the title of the article.
• Journal with Continuous Pagination Through the
Volume
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume number
(Year): Page(s). Print.
Davis, William D., Thomas Cleary, Michelle Donnelly, and
Samuel Hellerman. "Using Sensor Signals to Analyze
Fires." Fire Technology 39 (2003): 295-308. Print.
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Articles in Print Periodicals 2
• Journal with Issues Paged Separately
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume number. Issue
number (Year): Page(s). Print.
Murphy, Karen L., Roseanne DePasquale, and Erin
McNamara. "Meaningful Connections: Using Technology
in Primary Classrooms." Young Children 58.6 (2003): 12-18.
Print.
• Newspaper Articles
Author. "Title of Article." Name of Newspaper Date, edition:
Page(s). Print.
Daranciang, Nelson. "Sex Offender Web Site Debated.“
Honolulu Star-Bulletin 8 Apr. 2004, night final ed.: A3.
Print.
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Electronic and Internet Sources 2
• An Entire Web Site
• With author
• Peterson, Susan Lynn. The Life of Martin Luther. Susan
Lynn Peterson, 2002. Web. 24 Jan. 2006.
• With corporate (group) author
• United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking
Water Standards. EPA, 28 Nov. 2006. Web. 24 Jan. 2007.
• Author unknown
• Margaret Sanger Papers Project. History Dept., New York
U, 18 Oct. 2000. Web. 6 Jan. 2007.
• With editor
• Halsell, Paul, ed. Internet Modern History Sourcebook.
Fordham U, 22 Sept. 2001. Web. 19 Jan. 2007.
• With no title
• Yoon, Mina. Home page. Oak Ridge Natl. Laboratory, 28
Dec. 2006. Web. 12 Jan. 2007.
MLA Citation Workshop
Works Cited: Electronic and Internet Sources 1
The new “MLA guidelines assume that users can locate most
online sources by entering the author, title, or other identifying
information in a search engine or a database. Consequently,
the MLA Style Manual does not require a Web address (URL) in
citations for online sources. Some instructors may require a
URL.” (Documenting 25)
Citation Creators & Other Helpful Resources
Database Citation Creators
Many subscription databases have tools to help with making proper
citations in various formats. Ex: http://citationmachine.net/
MS Word 2007
“References” tab allows for the creation of citations and
bibliographies/works cited lists.
MLA Citation Workshop
Summary & Recommended Resources
• Recommended MLA References
dianahacker.com: The Official Web Site for Diana Hacker
Handbooks. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2008.
Documenting Sources: A Hacker Handbook Supplement.
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 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. Writer’s INC. 7th ed. Wilmington, Mass.:
Write Source, 2009. Print.
MLA Citation Workshop
Acknowledgements
• This slideshow is adapted from one produced by the
Writing Center at Minot State University (ND)
“MLA Workshop Presentation.” Minot State University Writing Center.
2008? 7 Oct. 2008. <www.minotstateu.edu/writingcenter/pdf/
MLA_Workshop_Presentation.ppt>