Formatting Titles and Quotes
Direct Quote Definition: Must be identical to the original Must match the source document word for word You must include who said the information. If it is a literary analysis (from a book, play, etc.), you should give context to when the quote was said. If it is not literary analysis, it may be a reliable source (such as a published author, doctor, professional figure, etc.) who wrote or said the quote you are using. Either way, you should still attribute (give credit to) who said it!
Direct Quote using MLA in-text Citation 1. Gives context to the scene 2. Who said the quote S1 3. Quotation marks, then capital letter to start the quote When he sees Miss Maudie s hands, Jem says, You ve ruined em, said Jem. Why don t you get a colored man? There was no note of sacrifice in his voice when he added, Or Scout n me, we can help you (Lee 77). 4. No punctuation UNLESS it is a question mark or exclamation point 6. Period on the OUTSIDE of the parenthesis 5A. Parenthetical Citation If this is the first time introducing the author put the author s last name followed by the page number inside parenthesis. 5B. Parenthetical Citation If it is not the first time you introduced the author (and you are only using one book in your paper), just put the page number.
Title Format Italicize the titles of books. Example: Richard III or Othello Place quotation marks for short stories and articles. Example: The Necklace or Why do Hunters Kill?
Prose Quotations Prose ideas are contained in sentences that are arranged into paragraphs. There are no line breaks. Sentences run to the right margin.
Prose Quotations If a prose quotation runs four or less typed lines and requires no special emphasis, put it in double quotation marks and incorporate it into the text. o Example: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, wrote Charles Dickens of the eighteenth century. o This can be done in a number of places throughout your writing, such as the introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
Prose Quotations If a prose quotation runs four or less typed lines and does require emphasis, 1. Enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. 2. Provide the author and specific page citation in the text. 3. Include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. 4. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation. 5. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.
Prose Quotations Examples: According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree. According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184). Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
Prose Quotations If a prose quotation runs five typed lines or more, o Place quotations in a freestanding block of text and omit quotation marks. o Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented ½ inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. o Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark on the last line. This is called Block Quotation.
Prose Quotations All lines indented ½ inch Example: Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him 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) Parenthetical Citation placed after punctuation Context is not indented