PLAGIARISM & MLA
A Workshop Brought to You
by the COS Writing Lab
What is Plagiarism?
 Essentially,
plagiarism is not
giving credit
where credit is
due.
What Happens If I Plagiarize?
 You will most likely
receive an “F” on your
paper
 You may fail the entire
class
 Some institutions will
expel you
 It may be on your
permanent record
Using MLA Format
MLA (Modern Language Association) is a commonly used
method for documenting sources in a written work.
For the beginner, MLA can be daunting, but there are many
resources for the student to use, and in time, this method will
become a piece of cake.
Why use MLA format?
 Allows readers to cross reference your sources
easily
 Provides consistent format within a
particular discipline
 Gives you credibility as a writer
 Protects you from plagiarism
Where do I find MLA?
MLA Handbook for
Writers of Research,
6th ed.
Textbooks (Writers
Inc., A Writer’s
Reference, etc.)
www.mla.org
COS Writing Lab
Website:
www.siskiyous.edu/writinglab/
Writing Lab Handouts
Writing Lab Staff
Two Parts of MLA
PARENTHETICAL
NOTATION
WORKS CITED
Parenthetical Notation (In-text Citations)
The Two Basic Features Always Used
When Citing a Source In Your Paper:
 The last name(s) of the author (or authors)
 The page number(s) where the information is located, unless
the source is online or only one page long
Do not include the abbreviation “p.” (or “pp.”) or the
word page or pages
Parenthetical Notation (Examples)
 One Author, named in your introductory phrase
According to Jane Leeves, there are too many rules when it
comes to writing a research paper (21).
 Author not named in the text
In the last ten years, the guidelines for writing an “A” paper
have become very stringent and selective (Leeves 17-18).
 Two or more authors: (Leeves and Smith 71).
Work in an anthology: (Hemingway (author, not editor)25).
Work cited indirectly in another source: (qtd. in Smith 91).
What is the format for a long quote?
 If a quotation is four lines or longer, indent each line of text
ten spaces on the left; quotation marks are omitted; no period
after citation:
When Ambrose asked Tom Hanks if he is an optimist, Hanks replied:
Shamelessly so. I apologize to my friends and family because I
say it all the time, but if you had told me in 1966 that I’d be an
actor and make movies, I would have thought you were insane.
If you told me in 1966 I’d be married and have four great kids,
I could never have imagined it. (68)
How do I paraphrase?
 Original Text: The amazingly fast recovery of the cancer
patient baffled the doctors and scientists.
 Unacceptable Paraphrasing
The cancer patient’s amazingly fast recovery surprised the
scientists and doctors.
 Acceptable Paraphrasing
When they were informed about the speedy recovery of the cancer
patient, neither doctors nor scientists could provide a
reasonable explanation.
What is Works Cited?
 At the end of your paper, you must list the authors’
names alphabetically (last name first) of all the sources you
refer to in your paper
 Most citations should include:
Author’s Name
Title of Publication
Publication Information (Location, Publisher, Year)
Works Cited (Examples)
 Books
-One Author:
Leeves, Jane. Writing An “A” Paper. New York: Penguin, 1995.
-Two of More Authors:
Jamison, Jane, and Mike Krauss. No Gain Without Pain. Chicago:
Random House, 1992.
-Author and Editor:
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Tragedies. Ed. John Sawyer.
Boston: Norton, 1987.
Works Cited (More Examples)
 Magazine article:
Myers, Kevin. “Research is Overrated.” Time 25 June 2001: 7-9.
 Newspaper Article:
Miller, Joe. “Plagiarism on the Rise.” New York Times 28 May
2000: B1+.
 Web Page:
“The Perfect Quote.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Vers. 55.
9 August 2001. Encyclopedia Britannica. 20 August 2001
<http://www.eb.com:180>.
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