Avoiding Plagiarism / Citing
Sources
Using MLA
What is plagiarism ?
It is “the unauthorized use or close imitation
of the language and thoughts of another and
the representation of them as one's own
original work (“plagiarism”).
Parenthetical Citations
What is a parenthetical citation?
Material borrowed from another source
documented within the text that direct readers to
the source listed on the Works Cited page.
Parenthetical Citations in MLA
In using the work (s) of others in your text, you must
include the reference to their work in your paper AND
on your Works Cited page. When you refer to
someone else's words, idea, or other creation, either
through paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting them
directly:
1. Provide the author's last name (or the title of the
work) and the page (or paragraph) number of the
work in a parenthetical citation, then…
2. Provide full citation information for the work on your
Works Cited page.
3 Ways to “Borrow” Information
Quoting - easiest way, but use selectively and quote only the
passages that deal directly with your subject…If you decide
to omit part of the passage, use ellipsis points (…) to indicate
omitted words from the original source (Trimmer 22).
Paraphrasing - rewords the content of a short passage
phrase by phrase, restating the author’s words using your
own (Trimmer 24).
Summarizing - condenses a lengthy passage, rewording the
main idea and outlines main points (Trimmer 24).
The author's name or title if there is no author
may appear in one of two places:
1) in the sentence itself or
2) in parentheses following the
quotation, paraphrase, or summary
Page number(s)…
should always appear in the parentheses
following the quotation, paraphrase, or
summary, not in the text of your sentence.
If no author is listed in your source, use
the title of the article or book.
Arguably Mark Twain's greatest fiction was "Mark Twain."
Several of the characters in his novels -- Colonel Sellers, Tom
Sawyer, Huck Finn -- became well-known even to people who
never read the books” (Sam Clemens as Mark Twain).
If there are no page numbers - leave blank
This will be especially true of Internet sources.
Quoting - easiest way, but use selectively and quote only
the passages that deal directly with your subject…If you
decide to omit part of the passage, use ellipsis points
(…) to indicate omitted words from the original source
(Trimmer 22).
Quoting - (Author, page) at the end of the quote.
President Truman was pleased that the testing of the atomic
bomb had gone so well. In his opinion, “the atomic bomb
could be used to bring the war in the Pacific to a quick end
and, therefore, save American lives” (Malam 18).
Use quotation marks, author’s last name, and
page number
Long Quotations – four or more lines
Indent 1 inch one each side, do not use quotation marks,
double-space, set off by a colon. The final period goes before
the parenthetical citation. (Trimmer 25)
Huck Finn explains why he has to leave:
But I recon I got to light out for the Territory
ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s
going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t
stand it. I been there before.(Twain 366)
Secondary Quotation
A secondary quotation is citing a quote from another source
Author named in paragraph, page at end:
Malam, in The Bombing of Hiroshima, recounts statements of
Albert Einstein, whose letter encouraged the U.S. to build the
atomic bomb. Einstein said, “I could burn my fingers that I
wrote that first letter to Roosevelt” (27). OR
Author and page at end of quotation: Use “qtd. In”
Albert Einstein’s response after the bombing of Hiroshima is
telling of the horrific result and his guilt resulting from the
bombing. In reflecting on a letter he had once written to
President Roosevelt regarding uranium, he said, “I could burn
my fingers” for ever writing it (qtd. in Malam 27).
Paraphrasing - rewords the content of a short
passage phrase by phrase, restating the author’s
words using your own (Trimmer 24).
Paraphrasing
(Author, page) at the end of the paraphrase).
President Truman was pleased that the testing of the
atomic bomb had gone so well; he felt the use of the
bomb could bring the war in the Pacific to an end,
saving countless American lives (Malam 18).
Summarizing - condenses a lengthy passage,
rewording the main idea and outlines main points
(Trimmer 24).
Summarizing
(Author, page) at the end of the summary
Though a tough political situation, President
Truman thought it would be best to use the atomic
bomb to end the war in the Pacific (Malam 18).
For more examples and more detailed explanations, click here!
Works Cited
Malam, John. The Bombing of Hiroshima. North Mankato, MN:
Smart Apple Media, 2003. Print.
“MLA In-text Citations: the Basics.” The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue
and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://owl.english.
purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/02/>.
“plagiarism.” Collins English Dictionary. Comp. and Unabridged 10th ed.
Harper Collins, n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. http://dictionary.
reference.com/ browse/plagiarism>.
Trimmer, Joseph F. A Guide to MLA Documentation. 7th ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.
Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Kemble edition. New York:
Modern Library, 1985. Print.