MLA & YOUAn introduction to MLA style

Works CitedWriting

Citations

FormattingHumanities

LiteratureArts

Modern Language Association

Direct Quote

Paraphrase

Style

WHAT IS MLA? Style guidelines for written work in the

humanities

According to MLA.org: “Generally simpler and more concise than other styles, MLA style features brief parenthetical citations in the text keyed to an alphabetical list of works cited that appears at the end of the work.”

Basics include: Paper formatting In-text citations Work Cited page

WHEN TO USE Literature

Shakespeare Analysis Paper

Arts Short Story

Humanities Music history

FORMATTING: GENERAL GUIDELINES Paper must be typed, double-spaced on 8.5 x 11-

inch paper in Times New Roman font

1-inch margins on all sides

Leave only 1 space after periods

Header: number pages in upper right-hand corner & flush right with last name EX: Doe 1

Italics used throughout essay for the titles of longer works.

PAPER FORMATTING: FIRST PAGE No title page necessary In upper left-hand corner, double spaced:

Name Instructor’s name Course Date

Center title & write in Title Case No underline or italics or quotation marks, unless

the title of a larger work is used as part of the title EX: The Diary of Pigs The Diary of Pigs as Seen in The Three Little Pigs The Diary of Pigs: Analyzing Dr. Porker’s article

“Piglets”

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IN-TEXT CITATIONS: BASICS Referring to the works of others: use

parenthetical citation. (Author last name, page number) EX: “Once upon a time, there lived three little

pigs” (Porker 2).

In-text citations will correspond to an entry in your Works Cited page

Tell your reader what sources you used in writing the paper

USING SOURCES Sources give your paper credibility. Use them

wisely!

Direct Quote EX: “Once upon a time there lived three little

pigs” (Porker 2).

Paraphrase EX: Three small pigs formerly resided in the hills

of Fairyland (Porker 2).

WORKS CITED: BASICS An alphabetical list of sources cited in your paper

Should be on a separate page from your paper

Label the page Work Cited No underline, italicize, bold or quotation marks

around Work Cited

Font and size must be the same as citations

Double-space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries

WORK CITED: CAPITALIZATION/PUNCTUATION Capitalize each word in the titles of articles,

books, etc.

Do not capitalize articles, short prepositions or conjunctions unless one is the first word of the title or subtitle.

Use italics for larger works (books, magazines, journals) and quotation marks for titles of shorter works (poems, articles).

WORK CITED: LISTING AUTHOR NAMES Entries are listed in alphabetical order by

author name. Last name first First name next, followed by middle name/initial

and suffix Don’t list titles or degrees Do include suffixes likes “Jr.” or “II” Example:

Burke, KevinKing, Martin Luther, Jr.Levy, David M.Wallace, David Foster

WORKS CITED: BOOK BASICS Name (s) of authors or editors

Title of book (including subtitle) italicized

City of publication, name of publisher, and year of publication

Medium of publication (print, web)

EX: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of

Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium.

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WORKS CITED: PERIODICAL BASICS Names of authors Title of article in “quotation marks” Title of journal or magazine italicized Volume number (for a journal) Issue number (for a journal, if available) Date of publication (for journal article, note

year only) Page numbers of the article. Medium of publication (print, web) EX:

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical. Day Month Year: pages. Print.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Writing Center Handouts

The Purdue Owl

MLA website

MLA handbook

IMPORTANT NOTE ALWAYS follow your professor’s

instructions.

Although most will adhere to the most recent MLA guidelines, some will add their own style requirements for their assignments.

At the end of the day, the professor is grading you; therefore, it is imperative that you follow the instructions on the assignment sheet.