Making Sense of MLA by Tabbitha Zepeda Library & Learning Resource Center 2012.

Making Sense of Making Sense of

MLAMLAby Tabbitha Zepedaby Tabbitha Zepeda

Library & Learning Resource Center 2012Library & Learning Resource Center 2012

What is MLA Formatting?What is MLA Formatting?

College papers include College papers include information, ideas, and information, ideas, and quotations from sources that quotations from sources that must be accurately documented. must be accurately documented. Documentation allows others to Documentation allows others to see the path you have taken in see the path you have taken in researching and writing your researching and writing your paper, be it informative, paper, be it informative, interpretive, or argumentative.interpretive, or argumentative.

Tabbitha Zepeda © 2010Tabbitha Zepeda © 2010

The guidelines presented here are based on the fifth and The guidelines presented here are based on the fifth and seventh editions of Joseph Gibaldi’s seventh editions of Joseph Gibaldi’s MLA Handbook for Writers MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers of Research Papers ..

The documentation style developed by the The documentation style developed by the Modern Language Association (MLA) is Modern Language Association (MLA) is used by many researchers in the arts and used by many researchers in the arts and humanities, especially those who write humanities, especially those who write about language and literature. Because of about language and literature. Because of this, MLA style is often used by courses this, MLA style is often used by courses focused on the arts and humanities.focused on the arts and humanities.


Basic Paper LayoutBasic Paper Layout

1 inch margins1 inch margins 10-12 font (10-12 font (Times New Times New

RomanRoman or Arial) or Arial) Double spacedDouble spaced Writer’s last name and Writer’s last name and

page number in upper page number in upper right corner ½ inch from right corner ½ inch from the top on every pagethe top on every page

Title must be centered Title must be centered and NOT underlinedand NOT underlined

Paragraph indentation is Paragraph indentation is 5 spaces or ½ inch5 spaces or ½ inch

Heading in upper left Heading in upper left corner 1 inch from the corner 1 inch from the top (first page only) top (first page only)

LayoutLayout: :

NameName

Professor’s NameProfessor’s Name

Course NameCourse Name

Due DateDue Date


PlagiarismPlagiarism


What is Plagiarism?What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or unauthorized use or imitation of someone imitation of someone else’s thoughts or else’s thoughts or ideas and using them ideas and using them as one’s own.as one’s own.


Why is Plagiarism Why is Plagiarism important?important? While taking college While taking college

courses, students are courses, students are

influenced by class influenced by class

discussion, text, and lecture. discussion, text, and lecture.

Using such influences in Using such influences in

one’s own writing is one’s own writing is

inevitable, but claiming that such ideas inevitable, but claiming that such ideas are one’s own is dishonest and does are one’s own is dishonest and does not give credit to the source.not give credit to the source.


What happens if a What happens if a student is caught student is caught plagiarizing?plagiarizing?

Each college is different, but all take disciplinary Each college is different, but all take disciplinary measures when approaching cases of plagiarism.measures when approaching cases of plagiarism.

At Heald College, faculty members may enter a At Heald College, faculty members may enter a failing failing grade for the assignmentgrade for the assignment or exerciseor exercise in question, enter in question, enter a a failing grade for the entire coursefailing grade for the entire course, give , give additional additional courseworkcoursework or other exercises, or recommend further or other exercises, or recommend further action to the President, such as action to the President, such as suspension from the suspension from the collegecollege. The length of suspension may be from one . The length of suspension may be from one class up to and including the remainder of the school class up to and including the remainder of the school term to all classes and activities of the college for one term to all classes and activities of the college for one or more terms.or more terms.


How does a student avoid How does a student avoid plagiarizing?plagiarizing?

To avoid plagiarism, you must give To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use:credit whenever you use:

Another person’s idea, opinion, or theoryAnother person’s idea, opinion, or theory Any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings – any Any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings – any

pieces of information – that are not common pieces of information – that are not common knowledgeknowledge

Quotations for another person’s actual spoken Quotations for another person’s actual spoken or written wordsor written words

Paraphrase of another person’s spoken or Paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words.written words.


Using Quotes in Using Quotes in Your EssayYour Essay


Quotes are used to refer Quotes are used to refer to the works of others.to the works of others.

When quoting or paraphrasing, provide the When quoting or paraphrasing, provide the author’s name or title of the work and the author’s name or title of the work and the page or paragraph number of the work in a page or paragraph number of the work in a parenthetical citation.parenthetical citation.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

In essence, “culture shock is one of the staples of In essence, “culture shock is one of the staples of anthropology” (Wormsley 5).anthropology” (Wormsley 5).


If quoting from a play, the parenthetical If quoting from a play, the parenthetical citation includes the act number, scene citation includes the act number, scene number, and line numbers.number, and line numbers.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Malvolio retorts by yelling, “Go hang yourselves all! Malvolio retorts by yelling, “Go hang yourselves all! You are idle shallow things; I am not your element. You are idle shallow things; I am not your element. You shall know more hereafter” (3.4.105-106).You shall know more hereafter” (3.4.105-106).


If adding your own word(s) or an ellipsis into a If adding your own word(s) or an ellipsis into a quote, you must use brackets to indicate that the quote, you must use brackets to indicate that the information isn’t part of the direct quote. You may information isn’t part of the direct quote. You may need to do this in order to make the quote a need to do this in order to make the quote a complete sentence or to edit information that isn’t complete sentence or to edit information that isn’t necessary.necessary.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: (original quote)(original quote)

Wormsley suggests, “Unlike a Western court, with its Wormsley suggests, “Unlike a Western court, with its litigants, lawyers, jurors and judges, Yombi operates litigants, lawyers, jurors and judges, Yombi operates with only the disputants and himself” (85).with only the disputants and himself” (85).

(edited quote)(edited quote)

Wormsley suggests, “Unlike a Western court, […] Yombi Wormsley suggests, “Unlike a Western court, […] Yombi operates with only the disputants and himself” (85).operates with only the disputants and himself” (85).


If a quote is longer than four lines, the If a quote is longer than four lines, the quotation is given 10 spaces or 2 tabs quotation is given 10 spaces or 2 tabs inward to the left. This specific inward to the left. This specific quotation of a source does not require quotation of a source does not require quotation marks.quotation marks.


EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Paul D’s statement can be explained by Mary Jane Paul D’s statement can be explained by Mary Jane Suero Elliott when she writes:Suero Elliott when she writes:

Although the end of Although the end of slavery signals the slavery signals the beginning of a “post” colonial beginning of a “post” colonial

period for period for African Americans, their African Americans, their status continues status continues to be defined by slavery’s to be defined by slavery’s colonial colonial ideologies. The imposed ideologies. The imposed perception of perception of themselves as themselves as commodified being, commodified being, when internalized, when internalized, results in [the African results in [the African Americans’] Americans’] continued struggle to develop continued struggle to develop an an empowered, agentive sense of self.empowered, agentive sense of self.


Works CitedWorks Cited


Formatting LayoutFormatting Layout

Begin on a new page with the next Begin on a new page with the next consecutive page number of the paper.consecutive page number of the paper.

Center the words Center the words Works CitedWorks Cited an inch from an inch from the top of the page.the top of the page.

Double spaceDouble space Put sources in alphabetical orderPut sources in alphabetical order Each entry should be hanging, meaning that, Each entry should be hanging, meaning that,

starting with the second line, all lines are starting with the second line, all lines are indented 5 spaces (the reverse of a standard indented 5 spaces (the reverse of a standard paragraph.paragraph.


EXAMPLE of hanging:EXAMPLE of hanging:

Author(s). Author(s). TitleTitle (or in quotation marks). Title of (or in quotation marks). Title of

edition used. Editor. Edition number. Volume edition used. Editor. Edition number. Volume number, Series name, State of Publication: number, Series name, State of Publication: Publisher, date published.Publisher, date published.


Works Cited: Works Cited: Variations and ExamplesVariations and Examples


Components of Most Components of Most CitationsCitations

Author. Author. TitleTitle. Title of edition used. . Title of edition used. Publication place (city): Publication place (city): Publisher, Publisher, date published. date published. Type of Text.Type of Text.


EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

Book:Book:

Bergreen, Laurence. Bergreen, Laurence. Louis Armstrong: An Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant LifeExtravagant Life. New York: Broadway, . New York: Broadway, 1997. Print.1997. Print.

Book with multiple authors:Book with multiple authors:

Jones, Max and John Chilton. Jones, Max and John Chilton. Louis, The Louis, The Louis Armstrong Story, 1900-1971Louis Armstrong Story, 1900-1971. . Boston: Little, 1971. Print.Boston: Little, 1971. Print.


JournalsJournals

Journal/Magazine:Journal/Magazine:Tirro, Frank. “Constructive Elements in Jazz Tirro, Frank. “Constructive Elements in Jazz

Improvisation.” Improvisation.” Journal of the Journal of the American American Musicological SocietyMusicological Society. 27. . 27. (1974): 285-(1974): 285- 305. Print.305. Print.

Personal Interview:Personal Interview:Doe, John. Personal Interview. 12 Nov. 2002.Doe, John. Personal Interview. 12 Nov. 2002.


Elements of an online entryElements of an online entry

Author. “Title of article.” Author. “Title of article.” Title of publisherTitle of publisher. Date posted. . Date posted. Total pages/paragraphs/sections (if numbered). Total pages/paragraphs/sections (if numbered). Web. Date of access. Web. Date of access.

If there is no publisher, substitute the information with If there is no publisher, substitute the information with N.p.N.p.

If there is no date of publication, substitute with n.d. If there is no date of publication, substitute with n.d. If there is no page numbers, substitute with n. pag.If there is no page numbers, substitute with n. pag.

*Giving a substitute for page numbers is optional, and only *Giving a substitute for page numbers is optional, and only necessary if there is other information missing.necessary if there is other information missing.

** There is no need to give a substitute if an author is not ** There is no need to give a substitute if an author is not listed.listed.


ExamplesExamplesInternet Source with All Components:Internet Source with All Components:Ross, Michael E. “The New Sultans of Ross, Michael E. “The New Sultans of

Swing.” Swing.” SalonSalon. 18 Apr. 1997. Web. 6 . 18 Apr. 1997. Web. 6 Mar. 1998. Mar. 1998.

With Information Missing:With Information Missing:

““Diane Mott Davidson.” Diane Mott Davidson.” Harper Collins Harper Collins PublishersPublishers. n.d. n.pag. Web. 10 May . n.d. n.pag. Web. 10 May 2010.2010.

(This source is missing an author, a date posted, and page numbers)(This source is missing an author, a date posted, and page numbers)


ActivityActivity


Online Source ExampleOnline Source Example

http://stepheniemeyer.com/http://stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.htmlmidnightsun.html

Meyer, Stephenie. “Meyer, Stephenie. “Midnight SunMidnight Sun: : Edward’s Version of Edward’s Version of Twilight”. The Twilight”. The Official Website of Stephenie Meyer.Official Website of Stephenie Meyer. 28 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Apr. 2009.28 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Apr. 2009.


Looking for Sources?Looking for Sources?

Heald offers a variety of search engines to assist you Heald offers a variety of search engines to assist you with finding sources for research papers. All you need with finding sources for research papers. All you need to do is go to http://search.ebscohost.com. to do is go to http://search.ebscohost.com.

As a student, your user ID is “healdstockton”, As a student, your user ID is “healdstockton”, with your password being “student”.with your password being “student”.


Making Sense of MLA by Tabbitha Zepeda Library & Learning Resource Center 2012.

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