MLA STYLE WORKSHOP“THE BASICS”

Presented by the SSTC and Library

Outline for the Workshop

1. Introduction to MLA style2. First page formatting3. In-text citations4. Formatting sources for Works Cited

page.5. Discussion of Plagiarism6. How to use NoodleBib!

Introduction to MLA Style

Purpose: 1. System for referencing sources 2. Document credibility of sources 3. Avoid plagiarism 4. Provide information

Formatting the First Page

Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.

Upper left-hand corner of the first page your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date.

Insert tab, Click on Page Number tool, Click on “top of page” option, Select “Plain Number 3.” Type your name in front of the number, Put one space between name and page number.

Double space again and center the title. Double space between the title and the first line of the text.

In-Text Citations

In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what is known as parenthetical citation. This method involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase.

General Guidelines for Source Information

Source medium (e.g. Print, Web, DVD)

Source’s entry on the Works Cited (bibliography) page.

Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page.

In-Text Citation: Author-Page Style MLA format follows the author-page method of

in-text citation. The author's last name and the page number(s) from which

the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

Examples: Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by

a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

Works Cited page

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford U.P., 1967. Print.

When a Citation Is Not Needed

Familiar proverbs- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

Well-known quotations: “ Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” JFK

Common knowledge: President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Citing Non-Print/Sources from the Internet Include in the text the first item that

appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).

No paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.

Do not include URLs in in-text citations.

Types of Media

Books-author, an editor, work in an anthology, encyclopedia or dictionary

Articles in periodicals-magazine, newspapers, journals

Online Sources-entire Web site, online book, work from a database, CD-ROM, email

Multimedia Sources-work of art, map or chart, radio or television, podcast, personal interview

Other sources-government publications, historical or legal sources, personal letter, pamphlet

Works Cited Page“Basic rules”

Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. Same one-inch margins and last name, page number

header as the rest of your paper. Label the page Works Cited and center at the top of the

page Do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in

quotation marks Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces

between entries. Create a hanging indent. List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed.

If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as 225-50.

Works Cited page

Entries are listed alphabetically by The author's last name Editor names for entire edited collections

Author names are written last name first, first name, then middle initial.

Sources without authors will be integrated into the alphabetical order of your list

Formatting Sources

Book:Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London:

Oxford U.P., 1967. Print.

Anthology:Desai, Anita. “Scholar and Gypsy.” The Oxford Book of Travel Stories. Ed. Patricia Craig. Oxford: Oxford U.P., 1996. 251-73. Print.

.

Formatting Sources

Encyclopedia:Posner, Rebecca. “Romance Languages.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropaedia. 15th ed. 1987. Print.

Articles in periodicals: magazineLord, Lewis. “There’s Something about Mary Todd.” US News and World Report 19 Feb. 2001: 53. Print.

Formatting sources

Newspaper:Brummitt, Chris. “Indonesia’s Food Needs

Expected to Soar.” Boston Globe 1 Feb. 2005: A7. Print.

Online sources: entire websiteHalsall, Paul, ed. Internet Modern History

Sourcebook. Fordham U, 22 Sept. 2001. Web. Jan. 2009.

Formatting Sources

More online sources:Peterson, Susan Lynn, The Life of Martin Luther. Susan Lynn Peterson, 2005. Web. 24 Jan. 2009.

<http://www.susanlynnpeterson.com/index_files/luther.htm>.

“Utah Mine Rescue Funeral.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 21 Aug. 2007. Web. 21 Aug. 2007.

Work from database:Johnson, Kirk. “The Mountain Lions of Michigan.” Endangered Species Update 19.2 (2002): 27-31. Expanded Academic Index. Web. 26 Nov. 2008. (access date)

Formatting Sources

Multimedia sources: chartJoseph, Lori, and Bob Laird. “Driving While Phoning Is Dangerous.” Chart. USA Today. 16 Feb. 2001: 1A. Print.

Serbia. Map. Syrena Maps. Syrena, 2 Feb. 2001. Web. 17 Mar. 2009.

Formatting Sources

Other sources: historicalJefferson, Thomas. First Inaugural Address. 1801. The American Reader. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Harper, 1990. 42-44. Print.Pamphlet:Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dept. of Jury Commissioner. A Few Facts about Jury Duty. Boston: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2004. Print.

Plagiarism: What is it and how do I avoid it?

Plagiarism is using others’ ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information.

To avoid plagiarizing, you must give credit whenever you use: another person’s idea, opinion, or theory any facts, statistics, graphs, or drawings information that is not common knowledge quotations or paraphrases of another

person’s spoken or written words

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism

Terms you need to know: Common knowledge - facts that can be

found in many places and are likely to be known by most people.

Example: President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

  This is generally known information. You

do not need to document this fact.

Strategies for Avoiding PlagiarismWhat is NOT common knowledge? Specific facts unknown, other’s ideas, interpretations, research findings, statistics, quotes, etc.

You must document facts that are not generally known and ideas that interpret facts.

Example: According to the American Family Leave Coalition’s book (2005), Family Issues and Congress, former President Bush’s relationship with Congress hindered family leave legislation (6).

Strategies for Avoiding PlagiarismTerms you need to know: Quotation - using someone’s words. When you

quote, place the passage you are using in quotation marks, and document the source according to a standard documentation style.

The following example uses the MLA style:

Example: According to Peter S. Pritchard in USA Today (2005), “Public schools need reform but they're irreplaceable in teaching the entire nation's young” (14).

Strategies for Avoiding PlagiarismTerms you need to know: Paraphrase - using someone’s ideas,

but putting them in your own words.

Let’s take a look at how to paraphrase…

How do I paraphrase?

Remember, while paraphrasing, if you changed around a few words and phrases, or simply changed the order of the original’s sentences, that is still considered plagiarism.

Successful paraphrasing by students include the following: the student uses his or her own words the student maintains the original message of the

information the student puts quotation marks around any unique

phrases the student lets the reader know the source of the

original information

Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism

Put quotation marks around everything that comes directly from the text—especially when taking notes.

When paraphrasing, read over what you want to paraphrase carefully. Cover up or close the text so you can't see any of it to be tempted to use it as a guide. Write out a summary of the passage in your own words without peeking.

Check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you have not accidentally used the same phrases or words, and that the information is accurate.

NoodleBib

NoodleBib by NoodleTools is an online citation generator provided by HGTC Library that will help you create perfectly formatted MLA style citations.

Beware: You must have some understanding of how citations work to get a correct citation out of NoodleBib.

Note: To use NoodleBib from off-campus, you will need HGTC's school username and password:

Username: hgtclib Password: hgtc09

NoodleBib Access Instructions Go to www.hgtc.edu/library Click on the Citations tab Click on NoodleBib Full Version Make note of the username and password if off-campus Click on Current Users: Sign In If you are a new user, click on “Create a free Personal

ID” Returning users, enter your Personal ID and Password

Click on Bibliography in the upper part of the screen Follow the on screen prompts

Choose MLA Style, then select Bibliography once again

NoodleBib Help

Assistance using NoodleBib is available through a variety of avenues: Click on the Help link shown on all NoodleBib

screens at any time.

View HGTC Library’s NoodleBib tutorial, available at http://libguides.hgtc.edu/librarytutorials

Pick up the NoodleBib Instructions guide available at any HGTC campus library.

Visit any HGTC campus library and ask for assistance.

Thank you!

Credits: MLA Manual Chris Williams, Reference Librarian at Horry

Georgetown Technical College Student Success and Technology Center The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010.

Web. 18 January 2012. Hacker, Diane. Research and Documentation

in the Electronic Age. 4th Ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s, New York: 2009 146-71. Print.

Questions?

Do you have further questions, comments, concerns, or do you need additional help on this topic? Please call the SSTC: Conway campus (843) 349-7872 Grand Strand campus (843) 477-2113 Georgetown campus (843) 520-1455

Thank you!

Workshop Quiz

Type the following webpage link in your browser:

libguides.hgtc.edu/sstc Click on the “On Demand Workshops and

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Evaluate what you have learned through this workshop!

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