MLA (Modern Language Association) is a system of documentation for you to show where you got your information from. Correct documentation is important so readers can verify the validity of your sources and so that sources receive appropriate credit. Your junior year, we will focus on three main sources available to you: books, online journals, internet. Remember to include all of your sources on a correct Works Cited Page. Examples
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In-Text Documentation
In your paper, you need to let the reader know when you are borrowing from someone else. You do this by putting the author's last name and page number in parentheses after the borrowed information. Look at the following example from a paper.
I think Brittany Spears is really cool. I like her because she is very smart. According to a recent poll on intelligent people, Brittany Spears is "one of the most brilliant and charming people in existence today" (Smith 92).
Notice that the parentheses go inside the period. There is no comma between author's name and page number. If you do not have an author, go to the first word in your Works Cited page entry. If you do not have a page number, just leave it out. So an example from a website with no author might look like this: (My Space).
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Works Cited Page Entries
Below are examples of the most common entry types you will use in your paper. Refer to the Bud's Research Manual or the Online Citation Creator for more complicated entries.
Books on Works Cited Page
Format
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Example
Smith, John. Life Is a Bowl of Cherries. New York: Harper, 2001.
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Magazines from Wiseowl of HWWilson on Works Cited Page
Format
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Title of Article." Magazine Name Date of article. Date of Access <website address>.
Example
Smith, John. "Life Is Fun With Grammar." Time Magazine 4 May 2000. 8 Sep. 2003 <www.time.com/article4563uw23>.
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Internet Website on Works Cited Page
Format
Creator's Last Name, Creator's First Name. Title of Website. Access date <website address>.
Example
Smith, John. Grammar is Cooler Than You Think. 9 Sep. 2004 <www.coolgrammar.com>.
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Personal Interview
Format
Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. Personal Interview. Date of Interview
Example
Bush, George. Personal Interview. 12 Nov. 2004.
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FAQ's about MLA
What is a Works Cited page?
A Works Cited page is the last page of your research paper, and it tells readers where they can find your sources.
I know I'm supposed to indent after the first line. How can I do that automatically?
Highlight the entry that you want to indent. Go to Format/Paragraph, then look at the "indentation" section. Click on the special dropdown and choose "hanging."
Should I put bibliography or works cited at the top?
Works Cited
How many sources should I have?
Look back at the assignment.
What order should I put my entries in?
Alphabetical order with the first word of each entry.
What if I can't find the author or creator?
If there is no author, begin your entry with the title.