MLA Citations Style Guide
Guidelines for Making a Bibliography and Documenting Sources
Valerie Boatwright, SLMS
R C Edwards Middle School
School District of Pickens County
November 2010
Introduction
This purpose of this handbook is to provide you with some guidance on how to cite (give credit to)
your sources in MLA style. It is important to remember that in the space of this small handbook,
only the most important elements of the style are covered; therefore, your teacher may need to
share other material with you in order for you to complete your assignments in MLA format.
Table of Contents
1. MLA Citations Style Guide Basics
2. Plagiarism—What is it? How can I avoid it?
3. Works Cited Page
4. Parenthetical Citation
5. Examples of Common Forms of Sources for Citation
6. On-line Tools and Resources for Writing Citations In MLA Format
7. MLA Citation/Notes Handouts by Source: (May wish to color-code pages):
- Book
- Internet
- Periodical
- Encyclopedia
- Online Data
8.
Glossary
MLA Style
What is MLA Style?
MLA citation style refers to the rules and conventions established by the Modern Language
Association for acknowledging sources used in a research paper.
How do I use this MLA Citatons Style Guide?
Refer to the table of contents to get a quick overview of what is involved in citing
sources. Before you complete your paper of project, read through the guide,
paying attention to examples given. Use links to navigate within the guide itself,
including references to the glossary. As you finalize yout research paper or project,
refer back to descriptions and examples.
Why is it Important that I Cite Sources?
Citing sources is simply acknowledging that someone else had an idea before
you did. I like to use the example of a stolen car…
Let’s say you own a shiny red sports car. One day, someone else comes along
who LOVES your red sports car, too, and wishes it were theirs. The drive away
in the car, take it to a body shop, have it repainted black, and add a chrome
package. Is this car now theirs, or is it yours? It is still YOURS, of course! Just
changing the color and details doesn’t make it someone else’s car!
The same is true of information. If you read someone else’s words or ideas but
change the wording, those words/ideas do not suddenly belong to you. You
must give credit to the person from whom you took them.
(See plagiarism).
[Back to Table of Contents]
2. Plagiarism—What is it? How can I avoid it?
What is plagiarism?
According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, to plagiarize is to “steal or pass off
the ideas or words of another as one’s one without crediting the source”
(Webster 886).
How can I avoid plagiarism?
The easiest way to avoid plagiarism is to simply be sure to give credit to the
sources you use. If you are using direct quotes (someone’s exact words), be
sure to place the words within quotation marks.
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3. Works Cited Page
What is a “Works Cited” Page?
A “Works Cited” page is the name that MLA gives to a bibliography. It is a listing
of all of the sources you cited in the body of your paper. Here are a few things
to keep in mind about the “Works Cited” page:
1. The “Works Cited” page is always going to be the last page of your essay or
report. You should type the words “Works Cited” and center it on the page.
[example]
2. Each entry must be complete and accurate. See examples of common print
and non-print in correct bibliographic format.
3. Each entry reads like one long sentence. What this means is that it does not
matter where the second line begins in an entry; it begins on the second line
only because you ran out of room on the first line.
4. The second and subsequent lines are always indented five spaces.
5. The sources are listed alphabetically by the first word or name of the entry.
This first word or name should be what you use in your parenthetical citation.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Example of a “Works Cited” page:
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4. Parenthetical Citation
What is Parenthetical Citation?
Parenthetical citations are simply in-text documentation. You point to the specific
source and page number where the original information can be found.
When do you use in-text documentation?
*if you use an original idea from a source (whether quoted or paraphrased)
*if you summarize someone else's ideas
*if you quote directly
Put the author's last name and the page number within parentheses and usually at
the end of a sentence.
Example:
The Romans called the German tribes “plundering, godless barbarians” (Hinds 19).
In the example above, notice that the author’s name and the page number on
which this fact was found are set off from the text within parenthesis. Note also
that the punctuation of this parenthetical citation is also important. The reader
would understand from this citation that on page 19 of Hinds’s book, this fact is
mentioned. Furthermore, since the words are contained within quotes, the
above example illustrates that this is a direct quote from that page. Here is an
example of the same idea presented as an indirect quote:
Example:
The Romans thought of the Germans tribes as barbaric and immoral (Hinds 19).
See the difference between direct and indirect quotes in the glossary section.
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5. Examples of Common Forms of Sources for Citation
**NOTE** The order of the information, punctuation, underlining and quote marks all must be exact.
Print Resources (Viewed in Print Form)
Book by One Author
Author. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Take the title from the title page, not the cover.
The author's name should be written Last Name, First Name.
Example:
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: Knopf, 1993
Book by Two Authors



List the names in the order they appear on the title page.
Only the first author's name should be reversed: Last Name, First
Name.
Use a comma between the authors' names. Place a period after the
last author's name.
Example:
Rowe, Richard, and Larry Jeffus. The Essential Welder: Gas Metal Arc
Welding Classroom Manual. Albany: Delmar, 2000.
Encyclopedia
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Encyclopedia.
Edition Year.
(NOTE: The author is usually listed at the end of the article. If an
author is not listed, begin the entry with the title of the article.)
Example:
Davis, Charlene. “Asia.” World Book. 2006 ed.
A Work within an Anthology
Author of Story. "Title of Story." Title of Book. Name of Editor.
Edition (if given). City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page
numbers.
Example:
Purcell, Arthur H. "Better Waste Management Strategies Are Needed to
Avert a Garbage Crisis." Garbage and Recycling: Opposing
Viewpoints. Ed. Helen Cothran. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2003. 2027.
Newspaper Article
Author. "Title of Article." Name of Newspaper Date, edition: Page(s).





Take the name of the newspaper from the masthead, but omit any
introductory article: Honolulu Advertiser, not The Honolulu
Advertiser.
If the city of publication is not part of the newspaper's name,
add it in square brackets: News and Observer [Raleigh, NC]
Give the complete date, but not the volume and issue numbers.
Specify the edition of the newspaper, if one is given on the
masthead.
If the article is not on consecutive pages, write the first page
number and a plus sign: B1+.
Example:
Daranciang, Nelson. "DUI Web Site Debated." Phoenix Star-Bulletin 8
Apr. 2004, night final ed.: A3.
Magazine Article
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Date: Page(s).




Abbreviate the months (except May, June, July). Give complete
dates for magazines issued every week or every two weeks, written
in this order: Day Month Year, e.g., 15 Jan. 2000
If the article is on consecutive pages, specify the page numbers
of the entire article, e.g. 16-20. Give just the last two digits
of the second number, when possible, e.g. 188-89, but 196-200
If the article is not on consecutive pages — if, for example, it
begins on page 27, then skips to page 30, and continues on page
32 — write only the first page number, followed by a plus sign:
27+.
Do not give volume and issue numbers for magazine articles.
Example:
Dominus, Susan. "Why Pretty Isn’t Pretty Enough Anymore." Glamour Jan.
2004: 136+.
Talcott, Richard. "Great Comets." Astronomy May 2004: 36-41.
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Non-Print Resources (Viewed Electronically)
Online Database
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Date: Page(s). Name of
Database. Gale Group Databases. Honolulu Community Coll. Lib.,
HI. Date of Access
<http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/hawaii_honolulu>.
Example:
Farley, Christopher John, and James Willwerth. "Happy Teen Walking."
Time 19 Jan. 1998: 50+. InfoTrac OneFile Plus. Gale Group
Databases. Honolulu Community Coll. Lib., HI. 8 May 2004
<http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/hawaii_honolulu>.
Internet Website
Author. "Title of Web Page." Title of the Site. Editor. Date and/or
Version Number. Name of Sponsoring Institution. Date of Access
<URL>.
Example:
Sherman, Chris. "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About URL."
SearchEngineWatch. Ed. Danny Sullivan. 24 Aug. 2004. 4 Sept. 2004
<http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php/3398511>.
TV Programs
"Title of Episode or Segment." Title of Program or Series. Credit
(Performer, writer,etc). Name of Network. Call Letters (if any),
City of Local Station (if any). Broadcast Date.
Examples:
"Daddy Knows Best." Cold Case Files. Narr. Bill Kurtis. A & E. 6 Sept.
2004.
"Why the Towers Fell." Nova. PBS. KHET, Honolulu. 7 Sept. 2004.
[Back to Table of Contents]
6. On-line Tools and Resources for Writing Citations
In MLA Format
EasyBib.Com
Essential Information Needed for Creating Parenthetical Citations
MLA Citation Guides
Citation Data Form
[Back to Table of Contents]
7. Glossary
Bibliography— A bibliography is an alphabetical list of everything you used to
research and in preparing a paper or project. It contains all of the works that you
actually “used” in your paper or presentation, as well as a list of other books or
sources you read but didn't directly use in your project.
Citation— brief credit within a paper, usually listing the author and specific page
number fro which the information used was gathered
Direct Quote— the exact words spoken or written by someone else
Indirect Quote— someone else’s words which have been changed by maintain the
same meaning as the original words
Works Cited— page, usually near the end of a research paper, which lists the
sources (including author, title, publiaher, etc.) from which the researcher gathered
information A works cited page lists only works actually “used” in your paper or
presentation. If your research project or multimedia presentation does not use a
source, then it should not be in your works cited page.
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Name _______________________________
Teacher _____________________
Book
MLA Citation/Notes Worksheet
Author(s)/Editor (last name, first name, middle) ___________________________________ (period).
Title (underlined) ___________________________________________________________ (period).
Publisher (city, state: name of publishing company) _______________________________ (comma).
Copyright date (year) ________________________________________________________ (period).
Examples:
English, Carol. The Cliffs Won’t Do: Read the Book. Philadelphia, PA: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
Drucker, Darla, and Amy Jones. How to Survive Your Wedding. New York, NY: Simon and
Schuster, 1997.
Notes/Quotes (pages):
Name _______________________________
Teacher _____________________
Internet Web Site
MLA Citation/Notes Worksheet
Author or originator if known (last name, first name) _______________________________ (period).
Title of web site (“quotation marks”) ____________________________________________ (period).
Date of Access: Day Month (abbreviated, period) Year ___________________________ (no period).
URL (<web site address in brackets>) ___________________________________________ (period).
Example:
“Presidential Campaign.” 5 Oct. 2000 <http://www.cnn.com>.
Notes/Quotes (pages):
Name
Teacher
Periodical (Newspaper or Magazine Article)
MLA Citation/Notes Worksheet
Author (last name, first name)________________________________________(period).
Title of article (“quotation marks”)____________________________________ (period).
Title of periodical (underlined)_____________________________________ (no period)
Date (Day Month Year)
(colon)
Pages(s)
(period).
Example:
Churchman, Deborah. “How to Speak Elephant.” Ranger Rick November ,2005: pages 4-9.
Notes/Quotes (pages):
Name _______________________________
Teacher _____________________
Encyclopedia (Reference)
MLA Citation/Notes Worksheet
Author if available (last name, first name, middle) ________________________________ (period).
Article title (“quotation marks”) _______________________________________________ (period).
Title of encyclopedia (underlined) ______________________________________________ (period).
Year ______________________ followed by edition (abbreviated, ed) _________________ (period).
Example:
Barnes, Isaac Jacob. “Camels.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1996 ed.
Notes/Quotes (pages):
Name _______________________________
Teacher _____________________
Online Encyclopedia/Database
MLA Citation/Notes Worksheet
Author of the article if known (last name, first name) _______________________________ (period).
Title of the article (“quotation marks”) __________________________________________ (period).
Title of the electronic publication (underlined) ____________________________________ (period).
Publisher, Copyright date of the electronic publication ______________________________ (period).
Date of Access: Day Month (abbreviated, period) Year ___________________________ (no period).
URL (<web site address in brackets>) ___________________________________________ (period).
Example:
Pasquier, Roger F. “Owl.” Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2002. 30 Sept. 2002
<http://ea.grolier.com>.
Notes/Quotes (pages):