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.
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!