MLA In-Text (also called “internal”) Citation Worksheet
Examine each of the following pairs carefully. Indicate the passage that handles MLA in-text citations
correctly and briefly explain what is wrong with the citation in the other passage. On your own paper,
explain why the one you chose is correct and the other answer choice is incorrect.
1a. In "Death and Justice," Edward Koch, former mayor of New York City, argues that "life is precious, and . . .
the death penalty helps to affirm this fact (857)."
1b. In "Death and Justice," Edward Koch, former mayor of New York City, argues that "life is precious, and . . .
the death penalty helps to affirm this fact" (857).
2a. One study revealed that "by 1991 two-thirds (66.7%) of all mothers with children under eighteen were in the
labor force" (107).
2b. One study revealed that "by 1991 two-thirds (66.7%) of all mothers with children under eighteen were in the
labor force" (Etzioni 107).
3a. "Arguing about whether nontraditional families deserve pity or tolerance is a little like the medieval debate
about left-handedness as a mark of the devil" (Kingsolver 168).
3b. Kingsolver points out that "arguing about whether nontraditional families deserve pity or tolerance is a little
like the medieval debate about left-handedness as a mark of the devil" (168).
4a. Bruce Catton claims that despite their differences in "background, in personality [and] underlying
aspiration," Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee had many similar characteristics (235).
4b. According to "Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts," an essay in The McGraw Hill Reader, despite their
differences in "background, in personality [and] underlying aspiration," Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee had
many similar characteristics (235).
5a. "There is a Chinese word for the female, which is slave," writes Maxine Hong Kingston, "Break the women
with their own tongues!" (191). She means that since women had no other word to use to refer to themselves
than one meaning slave, they eventually lost any sense of dignity and independence they might once have had.
5b. "There is a Chinese word for the female, which is slave," writes Maxine Hong Kingston, "Break the women
with their own tongues!" She means that since women had no other word to use to refer to themselves than one
meaning slave, they eventually lost any sense of dignity and independence they might once have had (191).
6a. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago shows his true nature when he states, “For when my outward action doth
demonstrate. / The native act and figure of my heart. / In complement extern, ‘tis not long after/But I will wear
my heart upon my sleeve/For daws to peck at. I am not what I am (I.i.68-71).
6b. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago shows his true nature when he states, “For when my outward action doth
demonstrate. /The native act and figure of my heart. / In complement extern, ‘tis not long after/But I will wear
my heart upon my sleeve/For daws to peck at. I am not what I am (Shakespeare, Act 1, scene 1, lines 68-71).