mla mcnair engl 003
TRANSCRIPT
USING MLA STYLE: GENERAL GUIDELINES
Brought to you by the Learning Commons
What is MLA Style?
Created by the Modern Language Association
Provides writers with credibility Protects writers from accusations of
plagiarism Allows writers to cross-reference
sources Allows readers to easily locate source
material
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Basic format In-text citations Works Cited page
Basic Format
1” inch margins all around 12 point font, Times New Roman or Arial Double spaced Identification in upper left corner of first
page Use a running header to number pages
in top right hand corner, include your last name; i.e., McNair 2
What should I cite?
“Unique words or phrases” - use sparingly
Paraphrases and summaries
Quotes
“Quotation” (Author page number).
One of McNair’s grading criteria includes, “title and author stated in first sentence,” (1) which will be examined in a later slide.
Paraphrases, summaries
With an authorIn Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass
Castle, the author depicts a childhood filled with dysfunction and chaos.
No author“Children of Alcoholics” examines the
developmental and psychological effects that children experience.
Signal Phrases
acknowledges admits agrees argues claims contends denies
disputes emphasizes insists notes observes suggests writes
Borrowed from Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual: Fourth Edition
Creating Works Cited
Separate page, end of paper Include both works referenced in your
paper Label it Works Cited (centered) Double space both entries Alphabetized by last name – don’t
reorder names!
Citing a Book
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.
Popular Magazine - online
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access.
Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.” Parenting. 1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Article from an Academic JournalLast Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”
Journal Title volume, issue (year): pages(s). Database Name. Medium. Date of access.
“Children of Alcoholics.” International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. (2003). Credo Reference. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Newspaper Article - online
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Title. Date of Publication. Database. Medium. Date of Access.
Sullivan Jr., Bishop. "Why Can't We Declare a War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Works Cited
“Children of Alcoholics.” International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. (2003). Credo Reference. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Fitzgerald, Dorothy. “A Slow Descent.” Parenting. 1 Jun. 2000. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Sullivan Jr., Bishop, et al. "Why Can't We Declare a War on Poverty?" The Patriot-News. 8 Aug. 2012. NewsBank. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.
Want More Info?
Diana Hacker’s, A Pocket Style Manual, Sixth Ed.
Class LibGuide MLA Citation Website Learning Center – tutors and academic
coach