MLA FORMATTING
ENG 3UI
Integrating Quotations
Remember:
You want a smooth transition,
(like from Justin Bieber to teen girls screaming)
not an abrupt change
(like from Justin Bieber to March Madness).
Tips for Integrating Quotations

Slim down the quotation until it’s ONLY what is
absolutely necessary.
Remember, we assume our reader has read the text.
 Quotations should not be more than 3 lines (for this essay).


Never leave a quotation hanging. Always introduce it,
and follow it up with analysis.


Analysis means adding your own interpretation, not
regurgitating the quotation.
Remember, the function of the quotation is to be a
proof.

Be careful to use quotations that work for you.
Options for Integration

Complete statement + colon (:) + quotation
 Katniss
is torn between two love interests: “Gale and
Peeta are both so dreamy, I don’t know how I’ll ever
choose between them” (Everdeen 924).

Signal phrase + comma (,) + quotation
 Katniss
reasons, “Gale is better at hunting, but Peeta is
better at baking” (237).

Full integration
 Katniss
demonstrates her mad archery skills when she
kills the District 1 tribute “swifter than Legolas” (411).
IMPORTANT FORMATTING NOTE!


The citation should come DIRECTLY after the quotation,
before the punctuation.
Citation = (Author Last Name #Page#)
No commas!
 Example:
Katniss is torn between two love interests: “Gale and Peeta
are both so dreamy, I don’t know how I’ll ever choose
between them” (Everdeen 924).
Note: When you’re citing the same text as the last quotation,
you may leave out the author’s name. Example:
Katniss reasons, “Gale is better at hunting, but Peeta is
better at baking” (237).

Analyzing Quotations


Do not rehash the facts.
Interpret the meaning and/or significance of the
quotation.
 Ask
yourself:
 Why
have I chosen to include it?
 What is behind the words?
 How does it prove my thesis/point?

Do NOT EVER say: “This quote shows...”/ “In this
quote...” (Or anything like that.)
Recap Quiz!
Integrating
Quotations

How many options do we have for
integrating quotations?
Recap Quiz!
Integrating
Quotations

What are some things you must NEVER
do while integrating quotations?
Sneaky Details




Periods/punctuation come AFTER the citation
parenthesis.
Quotations WITHIN quotations automatically
change to single (not regular double) quotation
marks.
You may shorten quotations by adding ellipses (…)
so long as the meaning and grammar aren’t
distorted.
You may clarify quotations by adding necessary
information in brackets.
MLA Works Cited
MLA has serious identity issues,
and hates when it gets called
a bibliography - or worse,
a list of sources.
MLA: Works Cited Formula


Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. City of
Publication: Publisher Name, Year. Medium.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s
Stone. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1997.
Print.
 This
is the standard formula for a basic text – a book
by a single author.
 BUT we didn’t read the short stories in single books, we
read them in an anthology…
MLA: Text in an Anthology



Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Work.” Title
of Anthology. Ed. Editor Name. City of Publication:
Publisher Name, Year. Page numbers of work.
Medium.
Thurber, James. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”
Imprints 11. Ed. Dom Saliani et. al. Toronto:
Gage Learning, 2001. 33-37. Print.
Books are underlined, while
stories/poems/articles/essays are placed in quotation
marks.

If the work has been translated, put the translator’s name
after the title of the work with “Trans.” before it.
Recap Quiz!
MLA Citations

Correct this article entry:
Tim Tebow, “Why I Don’t Wear Jeggings”
Fashion Quarterly. Ed. Lady Gaga. NFL
Publishing: New York, 2011, 3-103.
There are (at least) 5 things wrong with that.
Recap Quiz!
MLA &
Integrating
Quotations

True or False?
 A:
The function of a quotation is analysis.
 False
 B:
- It’s proof!
Short story titles are underlined.
 False
- That’s for book titles!
 C:
Analysis MUST ALWAYS follow a
quotation.
 True
 D:
x 1 million!
The longer the quotation, the better.
 False
- Don’t bore the reader!
Essay Writing
Some essential, crucial, important, necessary,
critical, indispensible, and absolutely vital
minor details.
Essay Writing - Structure





This essay should be 5 paragraphs.
Your thesis should NOT be the first sentence.
The title and author of each work must be included
in your thesis/introduction.
Every body paragraph needs a topic sentence that
states your point and subpoints.
Use transitional language to move you between
ideas/paragraphs.
Essay Writing - Format

Double space
 But
NOT again between paragraphs
 DO indent the beginning of each paragraph


12 point font (Times New Roman)
Regular (1 inch) margins
Formal Writing

Do not use:
 contractions
✗
✗
 slang ✗
 clichés

Texts ≠ stories ✗
 Texts,

works, pieces ✓
Always use present tense. ✓