Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mini-Manual For Using in Research Papers: MLA Style
Mini-Manual For Using in Research Papers: MLA Style
Mini-Manual
for
Using
MLA Style
in
Research Papers
MLA 2
MLA Mini-Manual
Table of Contents
Documenting Sources
Parenthetical Documentation (In-Text Citations) .......... 4
Quotations ............................................... 5
Titles .................................................. 15
Abbreviations
Numbers ................................................. 16
1999. <http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/idx_basic.html>.
MLA 4
Format and Layout (MLA 3.1-3.6) (See sample pages for examples)
Pagination: Your last name and the page number should appear in
the upper right-hand corner of each page, one-half inch from the
top, beginning with the first page. Number all pages consecu-
tively, including Works Cited pages.
Heading and Title: An MLA research paper DOES NOT REQUIRE A TITLE
PAGE. On the first page, one inch from the top and flush with the
left margin, type your name(double-space), your instructor’s
name(double-space), the unabbreviated course title and
number(double-space), and the date. Dates appear without punctua-
tion before or after, as follows: 22 June 1996.
When the same author is cited two or more times in a row and the
reference is clear, you may include only the page number(s) in
the parentheses in subsequent citations:
student” (67-68).
While the results are not conclusive, it’s possible that the
(Sanborn 60).
Quoted text may come at any place in the sentence, and it may be
divided by your own words: (MLA 2.7.2)
(Sanborn 60).
MLA 7
learning language:
Paraphrasing
A paraphrase uses information gained from another source and must
be documented the same way as quoted material. However, to para-
phrase, you recast the information in your own words. You must be
careful not to rely too heavily upon the words, sentence struc-
ture, or phrasing of the original passage and at the same time
accurately represent what the author has said. Paraphrases gener-
ally convey most of the original information and are about the
same length as the original.
Summarizing
Summary is much the same as paraphrased information, but it
usually condenses information from a longer segment--a paragraph,
page, chapter, or even an entire book. In this case, only the
most important points are conveyed, again remaining true to the
intent of the original author.
General Guidelines:
The following information, when applicable, should be included in
order as follows:
1. Author’s name
2. Title of a part of the book
3. Title of the book
4. Name of the editor, translator, or compiler
5. Edition used
6. Number(s) of the volume(s) used
7. Name of the series
8. Place of publication, name of the publisher, and date
of publication
9. Page numbers
10. Supplementary bibliographic information and annotation
MLA 10
Author’s name:
List the author’s name as it appears on the title page of the
publication. Use reverse order for alphabetizing: Smith, John J.
Never abbreviate the name, but use initials if they are used as
the author’s name in the source. Suffixes or roman numerals that
are an essential part of the name are kept, with a comma preced-
ing (e.g., Rockefeller, John D., IV).
Titles:
Capitalize the title as you normally would, put a colon between
main titles and subtitles, and underline the entire title.
BOOKS
Boynton/Cook, 1986.
PERIODICALS
EDITORIALS
sec. 1: 12.
INTERVIEWS
REVIEWS
MISCELLANEOUS
1989.
Deciding who is the author, publisher, and even what the title is
can sometimes be difficult for electronic sources. Look for an
author or publishing organization if at all possible. If a title
is not readily apparent, use the most obvious choice, such as a
heading, name of the link you followed, or the title in your
browser window.
<http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/DailyNews/
netprivacy991020.html>.
academics/wac/index.html>.
<http://wwwpub.utdallas.edu/~atrue/PRETEXT/PT1.1/
PT1PHELAN.html>.
An article in a newspaper:
<http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/
health/110299hth-boston-cancer.html>.
An article in a magazine:
<http://www.businessweek.com/today.htm>.
E-mail:
Jones, Samantha. “Preview of This Week’s Agenda.” E-mail
Underlined:
Underline titles of works that have been or could be published
independently.
* Books
* Periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)
* Films or movies
* Plays
* Albums
* Radio or television programs (not individual episodes)
MLA 17
In Quotations:
Enclose in quotation marks titles that are part of a larger work.
See MLA 2.6.3 for more examples.
* Chapters of books
* Articles in periodicals
* Poems (except long poems published as individual works)
* Short stories
* Single radio or television episodes
For values over one hundred, you may include only the last two
digits of the second number if more are not required (e.g. 1025-
29, 4005-09, but 65-125, 4018-4125).
Laura J. Baker
Professor Tessdale
English 250
14 February 1999
can only show how one came to hold whatever opinion one
does hold. One can only give one’s audience the chance
Works Cited
Boynton/Cook, 1986.
Jackson, Maggie. “Dow Flirts with 7500: Tech Shares Strong.” The
Book
Okuda, Michael, and Denise Okuda. Star Trek Chronology: The History
Journal Article
53-65.
Society Using the World of Star Trek." Los Angeles Times 15 Mar.
1995: A3.
http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm 18/03/2007
MLA Citation Style Page 2 of 4
ERIC Document
ED364932.
Website
Lynch, Tim. "DSN Trials and Tribble-ations Review." Psi Phi: Bradley's
http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm 18/03/2007
MLA Citation Style Page 3 of 4
www.bradley.edu/campusorg/psiphi/DS9/ep/503r.html>.
web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
infotrac.galegroup.com/menu>.
Notes
Arrange the items on your reference list alphabetically by author, interfiling books, articles, etc.
Doublespace all lines.
Indent the second and following lines 5 spaces (or one half inch).
If no author is given, start with the title.
Abbreviate the names of all months except May, June, and July.
If the paging of a magazine or newspaper article is continued elswhere in the issue, include only the
first page followed by a plus sign (ex. 25+.).
If the encyclopedia does not arrange its articles alphabetically, treat the encyclopedia article as if it
were a book article. Specific volume and page numbers are cited in the text, not in the list of
references.
http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm 18/03/2007
MLA Citation Style Page 4 of 4
Gale Reference Book: cite the original source being reprinted as shown under Book, Journal Article,
Newspaper or Magazine Article, etc. The example shows a Magazine Article. Then include the citation
information for the reference book.
Websites: include the title of the web page, the name of the entire web site, the organization that
posted it (this may be the same as the name of the website). Also include the full date the page was
created or last updated (day, month, year if available) and the date you looked at it.
Internet Magazine Articles: Include:
z The name of the database (underlined) and the company that created it and its home
webpage;
z The full date of the article (day, month, year if available) and the date you looked at it;
{ If you are citing a journal instead of a magazine, include the volume (and issue
number) and date as shown under the Journal Style above.
z The library or other organization (and its location) that provided you with access to the
database.
z As for page numbers, different databases will provide different information. Include the range
of pages (ex. 25-28.); or the starting page followed by a hyphen, a blank space, and a period
(ex. 64- .); or the total number of pages or paragraphs (ex. 12 pp. or 33 pars.). If no page
information is given, then leave it out.
The rules concerning a title within a title are not displayed here for purposes of clarity. See the
printed version of the manual for details.
For documents and situations not listed here, see the printed version of the manual.
Other Styles
http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm 18/03/2007