MLA Format and Citations Let the fun begin

MLA Format and Citations Let the fun begin! How can I use MLA techniques to properly cite sources and format a paper? http: //www. cbsnews. com/videos/th e-problem-with-plagiarism/

Purpose • MLA stands for Modern Language Association • It is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts • It provides: – guidelines formatting manuscripts and using the English language in writing – a system for referencing sources through parenthetical citation in essays and Works Cited pages – Protection for writers against accusations of plagiarism

Guidelines • Rule #1 - ALWAYS follow the instructions of your instructor. • Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8. 5 x 11 -inch paper • Double-space the text of your paper • You can do this by highlighting your work and hitting Ctrl+2 • Use Times New Roman: 12 • Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides • Go to File, Page Setup, Change the margins, and hit OK

Guidelines cont. • Indent the first of each paragraph one halfinch (five spaces or press tab once) • Make sure that your paper is justified on the left side only: ______________

First Page Format • Do NOT make a title page for your paper unless specifically asked by your teacher to do so • In the left hand corner, list your: • Name • Instructor’s Name • Course • Date 28 February 2007 – This should be double-spaced

• Double space again and center your title. • The title should be original and appropriate • Do NOT underline, italicize, or put your title in quotes or all capital letters. • Instead, use Title Case • capitalization of all words, except for internal articles (a), prepositions (in), and conjunctions (and) • Double space between the title and the first line of the text • Create a header

Header • A “header” allows you to number all of your pages consecutively (including the Works Cited page) • Your header should include your last name and the page number • Put it in the upper right hand corner of the page 1/2 inch from the top • Go to this link for a brief lesson on how to create a header and title for Google Docs http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=B 4 -Qo-fywf. Q

Here’s a sample first page in MLA format: Identifying Information Note the doublespacing throughout the paper and the 1’’ margins Header Original title, double-spaced and in “title case”

MLA Rules for Works Cited Page • Center the title Works Cited, one inch down from the top of the page, and double-space between this title and the first entry. • Include only the works you cited in the paper. • Alphabetize entries according to the author’s last name (or the first word of the document title if there us no author). • Each entry should begin at the left margin. Lines after the first are indented five spaces (1/2 inch). • Double space between all lines. https: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/05/ The above link covers the basics of works cited pages and the basic format.

Example of a Works Cited

Internet Resources • www. easybib. com • Everything you ever wanted to know about research, citing sources, plagiarism, works cited pages, etc. can be found at the following source: https: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/

Basic Forms for Electronic Sources Go to the following OWL at Purdue link for information on the basics of documenting online sources. https: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/08/ Generally speaking, all entries should attempt to include the following as was discussed in our bell work recently: author (last name, first name), title, publication, website, publisher, date of publication, tell whether is print or web material, and the access date. Note: If there is no author, begin with the tile of the article. If information is not available, skip over it and continue to the next item. **Bottom Line - make an attempt to identify as much about the source as possible and be sure to acknowledge the source from which you got your information, and do NOT try to pass off anything as your own!!**

Handling Quotes in Your Text Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”(263). • If not mentioned in the sentence, the author’s last name and page number(s) of quote must appear in parentheses Romantic poetry is characterized by the“spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263). **Notice where the quotation marks and period goes. ** OR Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth). **If there is no author, then you need to use a shortened version of the article title in the parentheses** Refer to the link below for examples of all in text citations and handling quotes in text. Bookmark these! https: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/02/ https: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/03/

Evaluation of Sources You should answer yes to each of the following three questions: Does the date of the source match the level of currency you need for your paper? Is the author a credible source? Blogs, Wikipedia, etc. are only places to start, but are not to be quoted in your paper. Is the source relevant to your thesis or question, i. e. , useful?

Thesis Statement - Model _________(topic) used the persuasive strategies of pathos, ethos, and logos to ______________________________________.

Practice 1. This is from page 63 of “Night” “They gave us our evening meal, a very thick soup, but no one touched it. ” Even though the prisoners got very little food there were times that they did not eat their meals. In Night Elie Wiesel talks about a time when they were served “a very thick soup, but no one touched it”(63). 2. This is from page 46 of “Night” “Medical examination in the open air in the early hours of the morning, before three doctors seated on a bench. ”

Practice 3. Sports Create a sentence and use a quote from this article. 4. FSU Create a sentence and use a quote from this article.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Works Cited Put all three citations that you created on this page.