MLA Formatting Harbrace Handbook Chapter 13 First Person

MLA Formatting Harbrace Handbook, Chapter 13

First Person §When writing a college essay, it is acceptable to use first person. § However, avoid expressions such as: § I think § I feel § I believe If you write the paper, it is assumed that you think, feel, and believe!

Using Present Tense § When writing about literature, use present tense (literary characters are always alive) § When discussing someone’s view or opinion of a work, use present tense (their opinion is always “alive” in their written work)

Giving Credit §In order to avoid plagiarism, there are two places to list your sources in your paper: § Your in-text citations (the body of the paper) § The Works Cited page at the end of the paper

Works Cited Page § This is the last page of your essay. § It is an alphabetical list of all the sources you quote, paraphrase, or reference in your MLA essay. § It provides all of the most important information about your source.

In-Text Citations § These are important because as your audience is reading your essay, they don’t have to flip to the Works Cited page to find out who you are quoting. They can see who the author and title are right after reading your quote or paraphrase.

Notes The text also mentions that instead of giving intext citations, you could provide info in NOTES, but DO NOT use this method unless your professor specifically asks for it. We do not use this method.

Take a look at the examples of intext citations on page 260: § What info should you provide in the in-text citation if you’re quoting from a book or story? “A man planning to spend money on me was an experience rare enough to feel odd” (_____).

§ What info should you provide in the in-text citation if you’re quoting lines from a poem? “O Rose, thou art sick! (____).

§ What info should you provide in the in-text citation if you’re quoting lines from Shakespeare’s plays? “How much better it is to weep at joy than to joy at weeping” (______).

Practice: § You take a class on British Literature and the professor assigns an essay examining William Blake’s Romantic Poetry. Following Glenn & Gray’s instructions, quote three lines from the following poem in MLA formatting: Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? – William Blake (extract from Tyger Songs of Experience)

For Future Reference… § Turn to page 271. Bookmark this page as your Directory to MLA In-text Citations. § Bookmark pages 279 -283 as your Directory to MLA Works-Cited Page Citations.