MLA Style Resources
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: MLA, 2009. Print.
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Parenthetical Citations in Your Paper
In the text of your paper you acknowledge the sources you used with a brief parenthetical citation that refers to an alphabetical Works Cited list at the end of the paper. The brief citation should include just enough information for a reader to find the full citation in the list as well as a page number, if appropriate. For example, if you are citing a fact found on page 359 of Up from History by Robert J. Norrell, the brief citation might be (Norrell 359); it might be (Norrell Up 359) if your list contains two books by Norrell.
Formatting the Works Cited Page
Information on formatting the Works Cited list is found primarily in sections 5.3.2 and 5.3.3 of the handbook.
· Start the list on a new page with the page number in the upper right-hand corner, .5” from the top, flush with the right margin.
· Center the title (Works Cited) 1” from the top of the page.
· Double-space the entire list, including between the title and first entry.
· Start the first line of each entry flush with the left margin, and indent subsequent lines of the entry .5” from the left margin.
· Use the abbreviations listed in section 7 of the handbook where appropriate
· Sort the entries in alphabetical order (see 5.3.3 for details).
Changes from the 6th Edition
Changes from the 6th edition:
· Titles are italicized rather than underlined.
· Include a medium of publication (Print, Web, Film, DVD, etc.).
· For Web publications include a URL only when you think a reader would need it in order to find the work cited or if your instructor requires it.
· All journal citations use an issue number, regardless of how they are paginated.
· Use abbreviations for Web publications when there is no publisher (N.p.), no date (n.d.), or no pagination (n.pag.) available.
MLA Style - Print Sources
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Books |
Example |
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One author (MLA 5.5.2) |
Fairbanks, Carol. Prairie Women: Images in American and Canadian Fiction. New Haven: Yale UP, 1986. Print. |
|
Two or three authors (MLA 5.5.4) |
Davidson, William R., Daniel J. Sweeney, and Ronald W. Stampfl. Retailing Management. 6th ed. New York: Wiley, 1988. Print. |
|
More than three authors (MLA 5.5.4) |
Gilman, Sander, et al. Hysteria beyond Freud. Berkeley: U of California P, 1993. Print. |
|
Anonymous book (MLA 5.5.9) |
New York Public Library American History Desk Reference. New York: Macmillan, 1997. Print. |
|
Anthology or compilation (MLA 5.5.3) |
Feldman, Paula R., ed. British Women Poets of the Romantic Era. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1997. Print. |
|
Work in an anthology (MLA 5.5.6) |
Shutte, Nancy, and Laura Tangley. "Problem Drinkers Can Learn Moderation." Addiction: Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2000. 93-100. Print. |
|
Articles |
Example |
|
Magazine articles (MLA 5.4.6) (Abbreviate all months except May, June and July.) |
(The first article below is from a weekly magazine; the second is from a monthly magazine.) Mathews, Jay. "How to Build a Better High School." Newsweek 16 May 2005: 52-57. Print. Wright, Karen. "The First Earthlings." Discover Mar. 2003: 24-25. Print. |
|
Journal article (MLA 5.4.2) |
(There is no distinction made between journals with continuous paging and those with issues paged separately.) Cnattingius, Sven, et al. "Pregnancy Characteristics and Maternal Risk of Brest Cancer." JAMA 294.19 (2005):2474-2480. Print. Albada, Kelly Fudge. "The Public and Private Dialogue about the American Family on Television." Journal of Communication 50.4 (2000): 79-110. Print. |
|
Encyclopedia article (MLA 5.5.7) |
(Do not cite the editor of the encyclopedia.) "Civil Disobedience." The Encyclopedia Americana. 2004 ed. Print. Mohanty, Jitendra N. "Indian Philosophy." The New Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropaedia. 15th ed. 1998. Print. |
|
Newspaper article (MLA 5.4.5) |
Harris, Nicole. “Airports in the Throes of Change.” Wall Street Journal 27 Mar. 2002: B1+. Print. “Elections Could Change the Game for Contractors.” Washington Post 15 Sep. 2008: D2. Print. |
MLA Style - Electronic Sources
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Electronic Source |
Example |
|
Online book (MLA 5.6.2c) |
Ambler, Tim, and
Morgen Witzel. Doing Business in China.
London: Routledge, 2000. ebrary. Web.
17 Jan. 2009. |
|
Magazine article from a
subscription service (MLA 5.6.4) |
Kluger, Jeffrey.
“Dr. Sigmund Doolittle.” Discover
Feb. 1996: 84+. Academic OneFile. Web.
1 Apr. 2009. |
|
Journal article from a
subscription service (MLA 5.6.4) |
Lappan,
Glenda. “Revitalizing and Refocusing Our Efforts.” Journal for Research in Mathematics Education 30.5 (1999):
568-78. OmniFile. Web. 8 Feb. 2009
. Thompson,
Michael D., and Robert O. Riggs. “Institutional Expenditure Patterns and the
Facilitation of Mission.” Community
College Review 27.4 (2000): 1+ . Academic
Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2009. |
|
Newspaper article from a subscription
service (MLA 5.9.4) |
Olson,
Elizabeth. "Something New: A 4-Year Degree at a 2-Year College.” New York Times 14 Dec. 2005, late ed.:
B8+. National Newspapers. Web. 6
Mar. 2009. |
|
Encyclopedia article or work in anthology from a
subscription service (MLA 5.6.2c) |
Howard, Lillie.
“Zora Neale Hurston.” Dictionary of
Literary Biography: Afro-American Writers from the Harlem Renaissance to 1940.
Ed. Trudier Harris. Detroit: Gale, 1987. Literature
Resource Center. Web. 26 Jan. 2009. |
|
Website (MLA 5.6.2b) |
Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 10 Apr. 2009.
|
|
Article on website (MLA
5.9.1) |
Musinsky, Gerald.
“Animal Spirits.” Encyclopedia Mythica,
2006. Web. 18 Mar. 2009. |
MLA Style - Non-print Sources
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Nonprint Source |
Example |
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Interview (MLA 5.7.7) |
Prince, Linda.
Personal interview. 24 Dec. 2005. |
|
Videotape or DVD (MLA 5.7.3) |
Bioterror. Dir. Kirk Wolfinger. WGBH Boston Video,
2002.Videocassette. |
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