Why in the

Is MLA Important?

WORLD

Because…

Structure

Consistency

Builds Credibility

Shows Accountability to our Sources

Protects us from plagiarism

--- Because the writing gods said so.

3.BASIC FORMATTING

1.IN-TEXT CITATIONS

2.WORKS CITED PAGE

In-Text Citations…when we know the author

Put the author’s last name and then the page number the information came from in

parenthesis (Wordsworth 26)

Place it at the end of the sentence that needs to be cited

Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”

(Wordsworth 26).

Period goes AFTER ( )

“ “ are closed before ( )

In-Text Citations…when we know the author

If you use the author’s name in your sentence, DO NOT put the author’s name

in your ( ).

Wordsworth stated that romantic poetry was marked by a “spontaneous overflow of

powerful feelings” (26).

Period goes AFTER ( )

“ “ are closed before ( )

In-Text Citations…when we DO NOT know the

author1.Abbreviate the title of the source

o The Impact of Global Warming in North America

o Abbreviation: Impact of Global Warming

o Tighter gun control in the United States erodes Second Amendment Rights

o Abbreviation: Tighter Gun Control

Practice Abbreviating Titles

“The Evolution of Superstitious and Superstition-like Behavior”

Evolution of Superstition

“Revisiting Rwanda’s Horrors With a Former National Security Adviser”

Revisiting Rwanda

In-Text Citations…when we DO NOT know the

author2. Determine, is it a short work (a single

article) or a longer work (whole website)

o If short, put the title in quotes:

o (“Impact of Global Warming”)

o If long, put the title in italics

o (Impact of Global Warming)

In-Text Citations…when we DO NOT know the

author3. Determine the page number you

accessed the information from, it will go in the parenthesis after the abbreviated title

(“Impact of Global Warming” 6)

If there are no page numbers (internet sources, usually), just leave it out

(“Impact of Global Warming”)

In-Text Citations…when we DO NOT know the

author4. The finished product:

(“Impact of Global Warming” 6) = Shorter work

(Impact of Global Warming 6) = Longer Work

We see more global warming hotspots in North America than any other continent (“Impact of Global Warming” 6).

PracticeWhat is the in-text citation if

something is cited on page 84 in:

Andrews, Michelle. "Meditate Your Angst Away." U.S. News and World Report 1 Feb. 2009: 84-85.

(Andrews 84)

Works Cited PageCenter the words, Works Cited, at the top of the

page

DO NOT italicize, change the size of the words, or put it in quotes

Works Cited PageDouble space all citations, but do not skip

spaces between entries

Double-spaced

Double-spaced

Works Cited PageIndent the second line of every entry (every

source).This is called a hanging indent

Works Cited PagePut your works cited entries in alphabetical

order by the author’s last name

If there is no author, put them in order by the title

Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulations. [...]

“Boring Postcards USA”. [...]

Burke, Kenneth. A Rhetoric of Motives. [...]