MLA Format

Research 3: The MLA FormatAvoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources

Amy FergusonRichland College Library

Fall 2009

Receive the Information Literacy Certificate

Attend all 3 workshops in the Library Instruction Program

• Research 1: Introduction to College Research

• Research 2: Electronic Research - Sources and Strategies

• Research 3: MLA - Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources.

Computer Use

Anyone using computers for other purposes (e-mail, games, etc.) will be asked to leave and will NOT receive credit for this workshop.

Only use computers as I direct.

Goals

• Use proper MLA in-text documentation

• Prepare a properly formatted Works Cited list.

A+

Agenda

Attendance

What is MLA?

Works Cited in NoodleBib

In-text documentation

What is the MLA Format?

See “Essentials of

the MLA Format”

Handout.

The Format

The Works Cited Page

NoodleTools will format the Works

Cited Page for you.

Online Punctuation Guide

www.virtualsalt.com/punctu8.htm

.?“ ”!

Why Must We Cite Our Sources?

To lend authority and credibility to our work.

To allow your readers to cross-reference your sources easily

To provide consistent format for writing papers within a discipline

To acknowledge our academic debtsAvoid Plagiarism

PLAGIARISM To plagiarize is to give the impression that you

have written or thought something that you

have borrowed from someone else.

From the Latin

word plagiarius —

kidnapper

Why Does Plagiarism Matter?

You may fail your class or

be expelled.

Plagiarism in your professional career can result in being sued, fired, and publicly embarrassed.

“Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.”

The DCCCD Code of Student Conduct prohibits Academic dishonesty

www1.dcccd.edu/cat0910/ss/code.cfm

Cite your Sources!

1. Provide in-text documentation

2. Provide a citation in the “Works Cited” list for every source cited in the paper.

You Must Cite Your Source When…

Quoting any words that are not your own

Summarizing facts and ideas from a source

Paraphrasing a source

When using factual information

that is not common knowledge

COMMON KNOWLEDGE:

Examples: General Custer lost the battle at Little Big

Horn.

Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States, was born in 1804 and died in 1869.

Information that appears in 5 or more sources

Anatomy of a Citation

Cooper, Mary H. “Global Warming Update.” CQ Researcher 1 Nov. 1996: 1-24. Print.

“Early Warning Sings: Spreading Disease.” Global Warming. Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2009.

McKibben, Bill. The End of Nature. New York: Anchor, 1989. Print.

Citing a Book

Becker, Gary S. "The Age of Human Capital." Education in the Twenty-first Century. Ed. Edward P. Lazear. Staford: Hoover, 2002. 3-8. Print.

Author. “Part of Book.” Title of Book. Name of Editor. Volume. Series. Imprint. Page Numbers. Additional info. Medium.

Periodicals

• Newspapers

• Magazines

• Journals

Citing a Magazine Article

Whitley, Glenna. “Duel on the Nile.” D Magazine Feb. 1989: 64-67+. Print.

Author. “Title of the article.” Title of Magazine Date: Pages. Medium.

Image SourcesTime Cover: http://images.google.com/hosted/lifeNewsweek Cover: http://www.flickr.com/photos/forallofus/

Newspaper Articles

Birnbaum, Mary C. “Information-Age Infants: Technology Pushes the Frontiers of What Babies Know.” Dallas Morning News 23 Aug. 1994: 5C. Print.

Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper Date: Edition: Section and Page Numbers. Medium.

Image: Newspapers 2 by Arjun Kartha from www.sxc.hu

Citing a Journal ArticleAuthor. “Title of Article.” Title of

Journal Volume.Issue (Date): Page Numbers.

Badami, Mary Kenny. “A Feminist Critique of Science Fiction.” Extrapolation 18.1 (1976): 236-59.

Image by James w Davis from en.wikipedia.org

Articles from Full Text Databases

Citation. Database. Medium. Date of Access.

Bessieres, Michel. "Global Warming:

Ignorance Is Not Bliss." UNESCO Courier

June 2001: 10. Academic Search Complete.

Web. 20 July 2003

Citing World Wide Web SourcesAuthor. “Title of Page.” Additional Info. Title

of Site. Date. Page Numbers. Publisher. Medium. Access Date.

Newhall, Brent P. "Beowulf." Encyclopedia Mythica. 17 Mar. 2002. Web. 20 Sep. 2005

Reprints

Author. Reprint Source. Rpt. of Original Source. Medium.

Chadwick, Douglas. “Private Property Regulation is Necessary to save Endgandered Species.” Endangered Species. Ed. Helen Cothran. Opposing Viewpoints Ser. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2001. 88-93. Rpt. of “Strength in Humilty.” Sierra Jan./Feb. 1996: :n. pag. Print.

NoodleTools

www.noodletools.com/login.php

Parenthetical (In-Text) Documentation

• Points to the specific source in your Works cited list and the location of information in source

• Provide– The Author (or Title)– Page number

Parenthetical Documentation

The education and ability of the people provide the United States with its greatest asset (Becker 3).

Source:Becker, Gary S. "The Age of Human Capital." Education in the

Twenty-first Century. Ed. by Edward P. Lazear. Staford: Hoover,

2002. 3-8. Print.

According to Gary S. Becker, human capital is the greatest form of capital in the 21st century (3).

What if the source doesn’t have an author?

Most college graduates earn at least 23 percent more than those with just a high school diploma ("Rising" 35).

Source:

"The Rising Value of a College Education." Presidency. Sping 2004:

35. Print.

No page number?

Just skip it!

The evidence clearly proves that the benefits of a college education outweigh the cost of earning a degree (Porter).

Source:Porter, Kathleen. "The Value of a College Degree." ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse: ED470038. U.S. Dept. of Education. 2002. Web. 26 May 2006

Remember

• Always write down complete information about your sources while you are at the library.

• You can ask a reference librarian for assistance with MLA format.

How Can I Get Information about MLA Format?

Refer to the handouts at http://libguides.richlandcollege.edu/libraryclasses

OR

Ask a Librarian!