Elements of MLA Style for
Citations
“The Might of the Cite”
What is MLA
• The MLA is short for the Modern
Language Association.
• According to www.mla.org, the MLA was
founded by teachers over 100 years ago
to promote the study and teaching of
English and literature.
Citing Your Sources…
• Means telling your
readers where the
information came from.
• Is a courtesy to the
original authors.
• Is a courtesy to your
readers.
Why do we cite?
• Is this fair?
• No. This is called plagiarism or
“the unauthorized use or close
imitation of the language and
thoughts of another author and
the representation of them as
one's own original work”
(dictionary.com).
J. M. Kane
Not citing your sources…
Is called plagiarism.
Is a form of dishonesty.
Can bring severe penalties.
J. M. Kane
When do I cite?
• It is commonly known that when you quote material
from a source, you must cite the source.
• But what about when you summarize or paraphrase
material into different words; do you have to cite the
source?
YES
NO
Wrong Answer
• An idea can be plagiarized just as easily
as a sentence. Changing the words does
not matter.
• If you didn’t know the information before
reading the source, that information must
be cited regardless of what words you use
to write it down.
Try again!
Correct!
• An idea is the property of an author along
with the words he/she used to
communicate it. Good job!
• Ok, now that you know when to cite, it is
time to learn how.
According to the Purdue University
Writing Lab…
MLA Style has two
parts:
• Works Cited
Page
• Parenthetical
Citations
Works Cited Page
• We have previously covered how to build
an accurate works cited page using the
MLA style.
• The next step is to learn how to use this
page to identify your sources in the text.
• This step is called “parenthetical citations.”
General Rules
• Parenthetical citations are used to crossreference cited text with the proper works cited
entry.
• Parenthetical citations appear directly after the
cited text.
• They include the first word of the appropriate
works cited entry (usually the author’s last
name) and a page number.
• They are part of the sentence and thus, they are
followed with a period.
Works Cited
• Look at this works cited entry:
• Wharton, Edith. The House of Mirth. New
York: Bantam, 1986.
On the next page, you will see how to use
this to make a parenthetical citation.
Parenthetical Citations
• Read this quote from The House of Mirth.
• “Why do you make the things I have chosen
seem hateful to me, if you have nothing to give
me instead?” (Wharton 68).
• Notice:
– End of quote
– 1st word of works cited
–
No comma
–
Page number
–
period
Which is correct?
• “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
(Emerson 148)
• “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
(Emerson, 148)
• “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”
(Emerson, 148).
• “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”
(Emerson 148).
So close, but not quite.
• Remember, citations are part of the
sentence; they can’t be left without
punctuation.
Try again!
Sorry, wrong answer.
• Remember, citations are part of the
sentence; they can’t be left without
punctuation.
• Also, remember that no comma should
separate the author from the page
number.
Try again!
So close, but not quite.
• Remember that no comma should
separate the author from the page
number.
Try again!
Correct!
• Good job, you noticed all of the necessary
rules for correct MLA citation.
One Last Item
• Sometimes it suits a writing style to
introduce the author before the quotation,
paraphrase, or summary.
• In this case, your citation will only include
the page number.
• Click ahead to see an example.
Example
*Author not introduced before quote:
Romantic poetry is characterized by the
“spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”
(Wordsworth 263).
*Author introduced before quote:
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was
marked by a “spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings” (263).
Which is Correct?
Welter argues that the “True Woman” of
the nineteenth century was characterized
by “piety, purity, submissiveness, and
domesticity” (Welter 152).
Welter argues that the “True Woman” of
the nineteenth century was characterized
by “piety, purity, submissiveness, and
domesticity” (152).
Sorry, that’s not correct
• Remember, if you
introduce the author’s
name before the
quoted material, the
citation will only
include the page
number.
Try again!
Correct!
• Well done, you clearly
understand the
principles of MLA
citation formatting.
• Now click here to
open the final MLA
assessment quiz.
Click here to return to
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