Citing Textual Evidence Using
MLA Format
BY MRS. BAKER,
MEDIA SPECIALIST
What is MLA?
 MLA refers to the Modern Language Association.
 Several different formats exist for citing research
within a paper, such as MLA and APA.
 The MLA citation method is most commonly used in
English classes.
Citing a Book
 For printed sources (books, magazines etc.) with a
single named author, the in-text citation would
appear as follows:
This is my example sentence (last name page number).
“Cole ignored his father” (Mikaelsen 40).
Note: there is
a single space
between the name
and page number
General Guidelines: MLA In-text Citations
 If the author’s name is introduced in the sentence before the
quotation, then it does not need to be included in the
parenthesis.
Example of author’s name in lead-in:
Ben Mikaelsen’s character Cole Matthews illustrates his
selfishness and lack of empathy when he thinks to himself
that Peter would never have gotten hurt if he “had kept his
mouth shut” (40).
Example of author’s name included in the parentheses:
Cole Matthews illustrates his selfishness and lack of empathy
when he thinks to himself that Peter would never have gotten
hurt if he “had kept his mouth shut” (Mikaelsen 40).
Quote within a Quote
Examples:
Cole emphasizes to the Circle, “ ‘ I am telling the truth
when I say I saw a Spirit Bear’ ” (Mikaelsen 130).
Edwin and Garvey challenge Cole to explain how his
two days of banishment changed him, and Cole
explains, “ ‘ I realized that I was dying and I had never
really even lived. Nobody trusted me. I had never loved
anybody, and nobody had every really loved me’ ”
(Mikaelsen 132).
Altering Quotes to Meet Grammatical Rules
 Use brackets to alter a quote so that it meets
standard grammatical rules and your needs.
Example:
Cole realizes the errors of his past and that “[a]ll his
life he had squandered his choices, wallowing in
revenge and self-pity, keeping himself down”
(Mikaelsen 84).
Quotations as Textual Evidence
Quotations should be used when . .


1. the exact wording is important.
2. the quoted material helps make or support the point of the
paragraph.
Example:
Cole realizes that he wants to live: “To be alive was
to have choice. The power to choose was real power,
not the fake power of making others afraid”
(Mikaelsen 83).
Paraphrasing Textual Evidence
Paraphrasing should be used when . . .


1. The exact wording is not necessary to make your point.
2. You can more thoroughly explain the quote by using your
own words.
Example:
After Cole is mauled by the bear and is lying in complete agony,
he realizes his powerlessness to change his predicament and is
overcome by loneliness (Mikaelsen 73).
Works Cited
A Works Cited features the works (books, websites,
newspapers etc.) you have cited (taken information
from) in your paper.
Example of a book by one author:
Mikaelsen, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear. New York:
Harper Trophy, 2001.