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Library Workshop: MLA Citation Style
INTRODUCTION
MLA citation style is composed of two separate elements:
1.) a brief parenthetical citation within the text of your paper
2.) a complete citation in the list of Works Cited at the end of your paper
It might be helpful for you to think of these two components as a pair: For every citation in the text, there must be a corresponding citation in the list of Works Cited.
PARTS OF A CITATION
No matter which citation style you are using, the elements included in the citations will be similar. A citation for a book, for instance, will include the following information:
author
date of publication
title
information about the publisher
Comparing MLA style to APA style can help you to understand each style better. Notice each element (author, title, etc.), where it is placed, and how it is formatted.
EXAMPLE CITATIONS
Listed below are links to documents that include many example citations.
Citing books in MLA style
Citing articles (print and electronic) in MLA style
Citing electronic resources in MLA style
ADDITIONAL PRINT RESOURCES
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 3rd ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2003.
This handbook provides detailed information on MLA style, including examples for many types of resources. Chapter five is devoted to information on preparing a list of Works Cited. Chapter six provides instructions for creating in-text (parenthetical) citations. Copies of this MLA Handbook are located in the library on reserve at the Reference Desk. If you cannot find an example of the particular type of resource that you wish to cite, ask a librarian for assistance.
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. 2nd ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1998.
Unlike the Handbook listed above, which is intended primarily for undergraduate students, this manual has been written for advanced undergraduates and scholars who need information on the correct preparation of a manuscript for publication. It includes chapters on the process of scholarly publication; the legal issues involved; the preparation of theses, dissertations, articles, essays, and books; and extensive citation examples.
Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Wadsworth Handbook. 7th ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
This handbook contains comprehensive information on many topics related to research and documentation. It includes chapters on all the major citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE), as well as chapters devoted to plagiarism and techniques for avoiding it. MLA documentation style is covered in chapter 18 (pp. 365-409), and includes information and examples on parenthetical citations, print and electronic resources (including many miscellaneous types of resources), contents notes, manuscript preparation, and a sample research paper. Also included are separate chapters devoted to writing in the major disciplines (humanities, literature, social sciences, and natural and applied sciences).
ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES
Research and Documentation Online
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/This site, created by English professor Diana Hacker, includes excellent guides to four major citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE), as well as annotated lists of some of the major resources, both print and electronic, in the corresponding disciplines (humanities, social sciences, history, and sciences). Also included are sample research papers illustrating the manuscript format of each style. Navigation through each of the citation guides is easy, making it possible to quickly locate a citation example for a specific type of resource.
MLA In-text Citations (from the University of Pennsylvania Library)
http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/PORT/documentation/intext_citation_MLA.htmlThis site provides examples of in-text citations for a variety of resources, as well as examples of Works Cited. An excellent resource for information on documentation in general, this site also includes examples of paraphrase, an explanation of what may be considered common knowledge (which does not require citation), and tips for avoiding plagiarism.
Using MLA Style (from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.htmlThis site also provides an comprehensive guide to MLA citation style. One of its particular strengths is its coverage of ways in which you may use quotations in your research papers. (See the section on Making Reference to the Works of Others in Your Text, and scroll down to "Quotations.")
MLA Citation Style (from the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library, Long Island University)
http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citmla.htmIf you are having trouble identifying the parts of a citation (volume number, place of publication, etc.), this site provides a guide with a color-coded key to each element.