CITING RESEARCH DATABASES MLA STYLE Opposing Viewpoints in Context The following guidelines are based on the MLA Handbook (8th edition). CORE ELEMENTS Each citation should include the following core elements, as applicable, in the following order: 1. Author, followed by a period (.) (MLA pp. 23-25) 2. Title of source, followed by a period (.) (MLA pp. 25-29) followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 30-36) followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 37-38) followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 38-39) 6. Number, followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 39-40) 7. Publisher, followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 40-42) 8. Publication date, followed by a comma (,) (MLA pp. 42-46) 9. Location, followed by a period (.) (MLA pp. 46-50) Citing a database When citing sources found in a research database you will also need to include information about the database, which functions as a second container. 10. Title of second container [database name], followed by a comma (,) 11. Location, followed by a period (.) MLA recommends that you include the record s DOI (Digital Object Identifier) in the Location field. Journal articles typically have a DOI; other sources do not. If the record doesn t have a DOI, provide the URL instead, either for the specific record you are citing or for the database. Don t include the initial http:// or https:// in your citation. Your instructor may prefer that you provide a record number instead of the URL. Your instructor may prefer that you not provide any location information whatsoever for a database source. In that case end your citation with the database name. 1
OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS IN CONTEXT If you provide a URL, scroll to the bottom of the screen to view it. Your instructor may prefer that you provide the Gale Document Number instead. EXAMPLE 1: Viewpoint essay To cite a viewpoint essay, scroll to the bottom of the screen until you see Source Citation. Viewpoint essays were originally published in a magazine, newspaper, or website, then reprinted in a book, and then added to the Opposing Viewpoints database. Because MLA treats information about the original source as optional when citing reprints (p. 53) you may ignore the original source in your citation. Database screenshot: i 2
Core elements: 1. Author. 2. Title of source. Enclose the article title in quotation marks. Container 1 Book Traub, James. A Little Humility: If Iraq Has Taught Us Anything, Let It Be This. US Foreign Policy, Italicize the book title. edited by Noël Merino, Provide the name of the person who edited the book 6. Number, 7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, Greenhaven, 2015. Because you are only citing part of the book, Include the page numbers, if provided. Container 2 - Database Because this record doesn t include a line labeled Database you need to look above the search box for the database name. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Italicize the database name. 6. Number, ` 3
7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, MLA states that the source s DOI (Digital Object Identifier) should be provided. Because this record doesn t include a DOI, provide the URL instead. Record s URL: link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ej3010933226/ovic?u=omah20 254&xid=1838656f Your instructor may prefer that you include the Gale Document Number instead of the URL. Gale document number: GALE EJ3010933226. MLA citation with URL: Traub, James. A Little Humility: If Iraq Has Taught Us Anything, Let It Be This. US Foreign Policy, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/ apps/doc/ej3010933226/ovic?u=omah20254&xid=1838656f. MLA citation with Gale document number: Traub, James. A Little Humility: If Iraq Has Taught Us Anything, Let It Be This. US Foreign Policy, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, GALE EJ3010933226. 4
EXAMPLE 2: Magazine article To cite a magazine article, scroll to the bottom of the screen until you see Source Citation. Although the citations in Opposing Viewpoints aren t always accurate they do contain the core elements needed to construct an accurate citation. Database screenshot: i Core elements: 1. Author. 2. Title of source. Enclose the article title in quotation marks. Container 1 Magazine Yu, Andrea. How Medicinal Cannabis Helped a Cancer Survivor Live Again: For One Prostate Cancer Survivor with Severe Radiation Burns, Medical Cannabis Offers Effective Pain Relief. Maclean s, i Italicize the magazine title. 6. Number, If provided, include the volume issue/numbers 7. Publisher, 5
8. Publication date, Provide the page number Container 2 - Database Because this record doesn t include a line labeled Database you need to look above the search box for the database name. 10 Oct. 2016. p. 61. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Italicize the database name. 6. Number, ` 7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, Record s URL: MLA states that the source s DOI (Digital Object Identifier) should be provided. Because this record doesn t include a DOI, provide the URL instead. link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/a466297542/ovic?u=omah202 54&xid=2d770ef3. Your instructor may prefer that you include the Gale Document Number instead of the URL. Gale document number: GALE A466297542 6
MLA citation with URL: Yu, Andrea. How Medicinal Cannabis Helped a Cancer Survivor Live Again: For One Prostate Cancer Survivor with Severe Radiation Burns, Medical Cannabis Offers Effective Pain Relief. Maclean's, 30 May 2016, p. 61. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ A466297542/OVIC?u=omah20254&xid=2d770ef3. MLA citation with Gale record number: Yu, Andrea. How Medicinal Cannabis Helped a Cancer Survivor Live Again: For One Prostate Cancer Survivor with Severe Radiation Burns, Medical Cannabis Offers Effective Pain Relief. Maclean's, 30 May 2016, p. 61. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, GALE A466297542. 7