Proper MLA Citation:
Some Notes and Reminders
Parenthetical Citations:
• The Basics:
– (author’s last name page number).
– (Ibsen 1735).
• For SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS:
– (ACT scene line #s).
– (IV.iii.16-20).
Parentheticals DO’s and DON’Ts:
• DO put a PERIOD after the last parenthesis, NOT
at the end of the quote:
– Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous
overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
• DO NOT include the author’s name if you already
said it in the sentence:
– Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked
by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"
(263).
About Question Marks:
• Do NOT put a question mark at after the last
parenthesis UNLESS the whole sentence is a
question.
– Is it possible that dreams may express "profound
aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
– Kurt Koffka, a Gestalt psychologist, asked "Why do
humans see their minds in terms of elementary
parts?" (Gray 74).
• (You still need that final period.)
The Works Cited Page:
• ENTIRE page must be DOUBLE-SPACED.
• Works must be LISTED ALPHABETICALLY.
• Use REVERSE (HANGING) INDENTATION:
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. The Bedford Introduction to
Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 1713-1761. Print.
About Titles:
• Titles of books (novels, plays) must ALWAYS be
ITALICIZED when typing (underlined when
hand-writing). (EXCEPTION: a play that can be
read in one sitting)
• THE RULE:
– Long works, divided into parts, that cannot be
read in one sitting: italicize (underline)
– Short works that can be read in one sitting: use
quotations marks
Quoting our Textbooks:
• For your Macbeth quotes – write down the
LINE NUMBERS from the Gold Literature Book.
• For A Doll House quotes – write down the
PAGE NUMBERS from your textbook.
Use Transitions!
• Connect paragraphs with appropriate
transitional words and phrases.
• Here's a List
Macbeth and A Doll House on the
Works Cited Page:
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. The Bedford
Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael
Meyer. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 1713-1761. Print.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Mirrors and
Windows: Connecting with Literature. Ed.
Brenda Owens. St. Paul: EMC publishing,
2008. 341-433. Print.
About Using Quotes:
• EVERY quote in your paper must have a “tag”
– an introductory word or phrase that
connects it to ANOTHER sentence.
• NO TAG:
– “Macbeth is a truly evil genius” (Williams 20).
• A TAG:
– Some critics say that “Macbeth is a truly evil
genius” (Williams 20).
USING quotes:
• MOST of this paper should be YOUR words.
• THUS, what you SAY about each quote should
be AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG as the quote
itself.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR PART BE?
“She sees herself not only as a catalyst for change,
but also as the source of masculine power, which
will transform Macbeth into the epitome of the
heroic ideal. Rather than being a moral compass,
leading her husband back from his errant ways, Lady
Macbeth becomes instead the instrument of his
corruption.” (Howell 11)
AT LEAST FOURTEEN LINES!
Block Quotes:
The Rule: If your DIRECT QUOTE is 4 lines of typed
text or longer, you must indent it in “block” form.
(This means indent the whole quote two tabs over.)
A sample is one the next slide.
REMEMBER: your explanation must be
TWICE as long!
Block Quotes:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him
throughout her narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them,
or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so,
I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would
be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else
attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr.
Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting
his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got
there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense
for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of
the house. (Bronte 78)
The use of the pronoun “it” to refer to Heathcliff here clearly
serves to demote him to a less-than-human status as he is
The Title of Your Paper:
• MUST indicate your TOPIC and your OPINION;
• CANNOT be a sentence;
• CANNOT be a question
How’s this?
Women in Macbeth and A Doll’s House
Literary Analysis:
• Your paper MUST be written in PRESENT
TENSE.
• INCORRECT:
– When Macbeth murdered Duncan, he was under
Lady Macbeth’s influence.
• CORRECT:
– When Macbeth murders Duncan, he is under Lady
Macbeth’s influence.
Use These Resource:
• Formatting the First Page of Your Paper
• Inserting Quotes
• Search here for any MLA formatting questions
you have.
• Use this resource to help with your Works
Cited page but be SURE to double-check the
formatting!