The MLA (Modern Languages Association) Style Guide Mrs Baker, Librarian September 2016 This document will give you guidelines on how to reference material according to the MLA style. For full guidance, please see Mrs Baker or consult the MLA Style Book available in the Library or on the S Drive at S:\DES\Student Files\Library\MLA Style Guide
Contents Introduction 2 Citation Styles 3 General Notes 4 Using Quotations 5 Footnotes 6 Endnotes 7 In-Text Citations 8 Works Cited Page 10 Example research project showing 13 in-text citation with example Works Cited page Glossary 16 Bibliography 17
Introduction With any research you do, you need to tell your reader where the information in your project came from. You do this by using a citation style which will include in-text citations and a Works Cited page or Reference page. Whenever you use another person s work in your project you must tell your reader where you got the information from. You do this by: 1. inserting a short in-text citation in the body of your work to show you have used another person s work 2. inserting a longer reference to your in-text citation in a Works Cited page or Reference page at the end of your document to provide your reader with more information. 2
Citation Styles There are many different citation styles, i.e. ways of referencing the source of someone else s work. The style you use will be decided by your school/college/university and the subject you are studying. At DES we use the Modern Languages Association (MLA) style in Years 7 to Years 11. This style is used primarily with the arts and humanities subjects, e.g. English literature & language, art, foreign languages, music, history, geography. In Years 12 and 13 you will also be introduced to the American Psychological Association (APA) style, which is used primarily with the social sciences subjects, e.g. psychology, economics. 3
General Notes Your document should be double-spaced. Use a legible font, e.g. Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana. The font size should be 12 pt. For full details of how to set out your work and the required formatting of the first page of your work go to: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/24/ You do not need to reference familiar proverbs, well-known quotations or common knowledge. These are the core elements you should include in your citation on your Works Cited page: 1. Author. 2. Title of source. 3. Title of container, (a container is anything that is a part of a larger body of works, e.g. website) 4. Other contributors, 5. Version, 6. Number, 7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, 9. Location. Each element should be followed by the punctuation mark shown above. Use abbreviations for these months: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. Do not use periods (.) in abbreviations composed solely of capital letters: USA, UK, CD, HTML Use periods (.) with names: P. D. James, J. R. R. Tolkien, E. B. White Full details of how to use the MLA style is available online at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ 4
Using Quotations Use double quotation marks Tell your reader where that quote came from (in-text citation) Reference your quote in your Works Cited page Short Quotations (fewer than 4 lines) Author s name as part of the sentence page number(s) in brackets Short Quotations (fewer than 4 lines) Author s name as a reference Long Quotations (more than 4 lines) Do not use quotation marks Start the quotation on a new line Indent the quotation one inch from the left margin The in-text citation should come after the last full stop According to Baker s study, dreams show you your own personality (184). According to some people, dreams show you your own personality (Baker 184), though other people disagree. Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78) Adding Words to a Quotation If you add words to a quotation, use square brackets around the words to show that they are not part of the original work. Omitting Words from a Quotation If you leave words out of a quotation, you should show the deleted words by using ellipsis marks... and leave a space before and after them. It is stated about legends that "some people [who retell legends] make a point of over emphasising the tale" (Bratton 78). In an essay on urban legends, Jody Bratton notes that "some people make a point of over emphasising the tale... and this can change the details (78). More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/ 5
Footnotes The MLA style recommends limited use of footnotes as they can be distracting to the reader. You can use footnotes to refer to other publications your reader may want to consult or for referring to additional information that might deviate from the main text. Footnotes are indicated in-text by superscript numbers placed after the phrase to which the note refers. The reference for the footnote is placed at the bottom of the page. Example: Some have argued that such an investigation would be fruitless. 1 Scholars have argued for years that this claim has no basis 2, so we would do well to ignore it. Remember, any citation that appears in your footnote needs to be referenced in your Works Cited page. To insert a footnote in Word: Go to REFERENCES Click on Insert Footnote More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/04/ 1 Several other studies point to this same conclusion. See Johnson and Hull 45-79, Kather 23-31, Krieg 50-57. 2 See Blackmur, especially chapters 3 and 4, for an insightful analysis of this trend. 6
Endnotes The MLA style recommends limited use of endnotes as they can be distracting to the reader. You can use endnotes to refer to other publications your reader may want to consult or for referring to additional information that might deviate from the main text. The notes should be listed on a separate page called Notes. The Notes page should appear before the Works Cited page. The notes should be double-spaced. The first line of each note should be indented five spaces. The notes should be listed by numbers which correspond to the numbers used in your document. Example in-text: Some have argued that such an investigation would be fruitless 1. Scholars have argued for years that this claim has no basis 2, so we would do well to ignore it. Example of Notes page: Notes 1. Several other studies point to this same conclusion. See Johnson and Hull 45-79, Kather 23-31, Krieg 50-57. 2. See Blackmur, especially chapters 3 and 4, for an insightful analysis of this trend. Remember, any citation that appears in your Notes page needs to be referenced in your Works Cited page. More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/04/ 7
In-Text Citations An in-text citation is a brief reference which shows the source you used. An in-text citation should direct your reader to the corresponding entry in your Works Cited page Books One author as part of the sentence author s name as part of the sentence page number(s) in brackets One author as a reference the author's last name and the page number(s) appear in brackets Two authors as part of the sentence Williams argues that when looking for work personality is better than qualifications (181). It is argued that when looking for work personality is better than qualifications (Williams 181). Canton and Bathia argue that tougher gun control is needed in the United States (76). Two authors as a reference The authors state, "Tighter gun control in the United States does not impact on human rights" (Canton and Bathia 76). Corporate Author use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate According to the majority of surgeons, obesity today is officially an epidemic (Nat l Healthline 223). No Author place the book title in italics We see so much global warming in North America because this region has more comprehensive programs to study environmental change (Impact of Global Warming 6). More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/ 8
Websites Include in your document the first item that will appear in your Works Cited page, e.g. author name, article name, website name, etc. You do not need to give page numbers. Article on a website with author s name as part of the sentence Article on a website with author as a reference Steven Hose explains that the introduction of an animal into the household is beneficial to children. It is explained that the introduction of an animal into the household is beneficial to children (Hose). Article on a website no author the article title in double quotations marks Entire website with author include only the author s surname Entire website no author include the website title in italics There is an importance for America to move away from it s dependency on oil ( It s The Right Time ). Summer flowering bulbs need to be replanted each spring when the ground is warm (Justice). The site has biographical information and numerous links to websites dedicated to Twain (The Official Web Site of Mark Twain). Website with Corporate Author use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate Their mission is to improve government decision making and public policy (Natl. Research Council). More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/ Magazines & Newspapers Article with author as part of the sentence author s name as part of the sentence page number(s) in brackets Article with author as a reference the author's last name and the page number(s) in brackets Article with no author article title in double quotation marks Simon Royle infers that the importance of a community is relevant to the size of it s population (22-24). The importance of community is related to the size of the population (Royle 22-44). Fish reserves in North America are at their lowest levels since the turn of the century ( Fish Fast Disappearing 70-71). More information at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/ 9
Works Cited Page Your Works Cited page should include a full reference to the source you used in your in-text citation Your Works Cited page should be on a separate page at the end of your project Center the words Works Cited at the top of the page The references should be in alphabetical order Double space all citations but do not skip spaces between entries Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations Example 10
Books Basic format: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date. Book with one author Williams, Susan. The Personality Guide. Raintree, 2011. Book with two authors Canton, D., and Andrew Bathia. Gun Slinging in the USA. Random House Inc., 2013. No Author Impact of Global Warming. Pearson Education, 2015. Corporate Author National Healthline. Obesity. Heinemann, 2014. More information at : https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/06/ Basic format: Websites Last Name, First Name. Article Title. Name of Site. Date of Creation, URL. Date of access. Article on a website with author Hose, Steven. Special Children Special Pets. The Children s Trust. 2008, www.childrenstrust.org. Accessed Article on a website no author article name in double quotation marks Entire website with author 12 Feb. 2014. It s the Right Time. Newsweek. 2016, www.newsweek.org. Accessed 12 Sept. 2016. Justice, Andrew. Gardening Guide. Gardener s World, 2015, www.gardenersworld.co.uk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2016. Entire website no author The Official Web Site of Mark Twain. 2000, www.marktwain.org. Accessed 16 May 2016. More information at : https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/ 11
Article in a Magazine Basic format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Day Month Year, pages. Article in a magazine with author Royle, Simon. Community Living. Focus, 21 Nov. 2015, Article in a magazine with no author include the title of the article in double quotation marks pp. 22-24. Fish Fast Disappearing. The Globe, 13 Apr. 2014, pp. 70-71. More information at : https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/ Article in a Scholarly Journal Basic format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, Volume, Issue, Year, pages. Article in a Scholarly Journal Howell, Rupert. "Conflicting Scientific Arguments." Tulsa Studies in Science, vol. 15, no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50. More information at : https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/ Article in a Newspaper Basic format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, Day Month Year, pages. Article in a magazine with author Gomersall, Norman. A Year of Change. Gulf Times, 2 Dec. 2015, pp. 4-5. Article in a magazine with no author Magic Music. The Peninsula, 29 Jan. 2014, pp. 16-17. More information at : https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/ 12
Example research project showing in-text citation with example Works Cited page 13
HOME SCHOOL VS. PUBLIC SCHOOLED Williams argues that parents have options when making decisions regarding their children s education (181). What parents require in order to make a virtuous educational decision is the facts surrounding the options they have, and knowledge of the outcomes or implications one decision may have over another (Williams 181). A review of the literature regarding these topics does not clearly identify which route is more beneficial to students (Canton and Bathia 76). One argument for public schools is that parents benefit from the fruits of public schools every day (Nat l Healthline 223). There is literature to validate both homeschooling and public schooling, however, it is also apparent that the number of parents deciding to home school their children is on the rise. In addition, over the last two decades, home education has grown consistently at a rate of 7 percent to 15 percent a year (Impact of Home Schooling 6). Additionally, reasons to keep the kids home are as varied as the students themselves (Hose). This study will seek to recognise if there are identifiable differences in the educational outcomes of those students who are homeschooled versus students educated through a traditional public school setting. It was found that the number of home-educated students in America is estimated between 1.7 million and 2.3 million ( Figures or Facts ). Book Single author Book. 2 authors. Book Corporate author Book No author Website article With author Website article No author Compulsory education could be found in A.D. 1500-1600 Aztec societies, where male students were required to be educated until age 16. This idea has evolved over the years to not only include male students, but all children under the age of 18. Since everyone must attend school, the delivery of their education comes under heavy scrutiny since everyone does not agree on what is best for our children (The Aztec Society and School). Those who oppose homeschooling (Justice) hold the belief that homeschooled children are socially backward and deprived (Royle 22-44). In contrast, research shows the opposite; that homeschooled children are actually better socialized ( Settling into Homeschooling 34-36). It is obvious that there are positive views for each side of the equation. 14 Website no author Website With author Magazine or Newspaper with Magazine or Newspaper no author
Works Cited Canton, D., and Andrew Bathia. Home vs School. Random House Inc., 2013. Figures or Facts. Newsweek. 2016, www.newsweek.org. Accessed 12 Sept. 2016. Hose, Steven. Special Children Special Schooling. The Children s Trust. 2008, www.childrenstrust.org. Accessed 12 Feb. 2014. Impact of Home Schooling. Pearson Education, 2015. Justice, Andrew. The Ill Effects of Homeschooling. American Society, 2015, www.americansociety.org. Accessed 23 Apr. 2016. National Healthline. The Mental State of Schools. Heinemann, 2014. Royle, Simon. Community and Schooling. Focus, 21 Nov. 2015, pp. 22-24. The Aztec Society and School. 2000, www.marktwain.org. Accessed 16 May 2016. Settling into Homeschooling. The Peninsula, 29 Jan. 2014, pp. 34-36. Williams, Susan. 21 st Century Education. Raintree, 2011. 15
Glossary Bibliography a list of the sources that you have used when completing your project Cite to quote to show where your quoted information has been taken from Citation to quote to show where your quoted information has been taken from Endnote extra information relevant to a project that appears on a separate page Footnote extra information relevant to a project that appears at the bottom of a page Paraphrase to restate something in your own words Plagiarism to copying someone else s work or ideas Quotation using words from another source Quote to repeat what someone has said or written Reference a source of information cited in a book or article Source where something comes from 16
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