MLA Format

1
MLA Format

• A quick guide to citing your sources for written
  papers
• Information source for this PowerPoint OWL at
  Purdue University Printable Handouts Using
  Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
• This page is located at http//owl.english.purdue.
  edu/handouts/print/research/r_mla.html

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Purpose of MLA citations

• Allows the reader of your paper to find the
  sources you used.
• Shows that you have done some researchmakes your
  work more credible.
• Protects you from accusations of plagiarismusing
  the work of others and not giving credit to those
  persons. (Can be accidental or intentional.)

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General Paper Requirements

• White paper, standard size
• Double spaced
• Easily readable typeface
• Margins of 1 on all sides
• Use underlining or italics to show titles of
  longer works.
• Number pagesupper right corner, ½ from the top
  and at the right margin.

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Use citations when

• You quote a source directly.
• You paraphrase or summarize another persons
  ideas/work.
• The information is not common knowledge.

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In-text citations

• Cite both the author (last name) and page number
  of the source.
• The authors name may be in the sentence or in
  parentheses at the end of the sentence.
• The page number must always be in parentheses at
  the end of the sentence.

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Examples

• Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked
  by a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings
  (263).
• Or
• Romantic poetry is characterized by the
  spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings
  (Wordsworth 263).
• See the OWL website for further information.

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Works Cited List

• Every source you use must be listed.
• The first line of each entry is at the left
  margin, other lines are indented ½.
• Double-space all entries.
• Alphabetize the list by the first word of each
  entry (usually the authors last name).

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Basic entry form for books

• Author (s). Title of Book. Place of Publication
  Publisher, Year of Publication.
• Example
• Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House.
  Denver MacMurray, 1999.

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Basic entry form for web site

• Author (s). Name of Page. Date of
  Posting/Revision. Name of institution/organizatio
  n affiliated with the site. Date of Access
  .
• Examples
• Felluga, Dino. Undergraduate Guide to Literary
  Theory. 17 Dec. 1999. Purdue University. 15
  Nov. 2000 http//omni.cc.purdue.edu7Efelluga/theo
  ry2.html.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab. 2003. Purdue
  University. 10 Feb. 2003 http//owl.english.purdu
  e.edu.

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Works Cited

• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). Using
  Modern Language Association (MLA) Format. 2002.
  Purdue University. 26 Apr. 2005
  http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/resea
  rch/r_mla.html.