MLA Formatting English I Honors
What is MLA Format? MLA stands for Modern Language Association. MLA format, developed by the Modern Language Association, provides the style (page layout of the essay, header, quotations, Works Cited, etc.) most instructors in the humanities require for papers. However, there are other formats such as APA (American Psychological Association) or the Chicago Manual of Style. Each format has its own set of rules. For papers in literature you must use MLA format.
Formatting your paper *Header - Your header will be in the upper right-hand column - Last name page # - Example: Smith 1
Formatting your paper *Heading Student Name Teacher Name Class and Period Date Assignment - Double space your heading
Formatting your paper *1 margins *Double spaced *Times New Roman *12 point font *Title - 12 point font, Times New Roman
Example
In-text citations
In-text citations MLA In-text Citation Examples Original passage from page 248 of Ashley Montagu s book, The American Way of Life: To be human is to weep. The human species is the only one in the whole world of animate nature that sheds tears. The trained inability of any human being to weep is a lessening of his capacity to be human a defect that usually goes deeper than the mere inability to cry. And this, among other things, is what American parents with the best intentions in the world have achieved for the American male. It is very sad. If we feel like it, let us all have a good cry and clear our minds of those cobwebs of confusion, which have for so long prevented us from understanding the ineluctable necessity of crying.
In-text citations In his book The American Way of Life, Ashley Montagu writes, The trained inability of any human being to weep is a lessening of his capacity to be human a defect which usually goes deeper than the mere inability to cry (Montagu 248).
Exercises - In-text citations The following quotes are from J. K. Rowling s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone. Copy down the following quotes with correct MLA In-Text citations. 1. Harry. Nasty, common name, if you ask me. page 7 2. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs. page 11 3. Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins, with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea. page 96 4. I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly. 5. Which means...we need a little change of decoration. page 306
Embedding Quotes Using Quotes: Surround quotes with your own words; these are called embedded quotes. You may put the quote at the beginning, middle, or end of your sentences. When embedding, you need to make it clear 1. Who says the quote (If it s narration instead of dialogue, still embed it.) 2. To whom he/she was speaking 3. When it is said 4. Other information necessary to understand the quote.
Embedding Quotes Examples From John Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men I ain t takin it away jus for meanness, says George when he makes Lennie give him the dead mouse (Steinbeck 9). George gets frustrated with Lennie, saying if I was alone I could live so easy, but later apologizes for being mean (Steinbeck 11). Candy, the old swamper who is missing a hand, owns a dragfooted sheep dog, gray of muzzle, and with pale, blind old eyes (Steinbeck 24). ==>Notice that I include the exact words and punctuation from the book.
Examples from Ender s Game Peter shows his manipulative side when he exclaims, not a joke, a game. I can make you guys believe anything (Card 10). Ender displayed such confusion when Colonel Graff showed up and asked, do you have any explanation for your behavior, young man, that all he could do was shake his head no (Card 14).
Signal Phrases Signal phrases introduce paraphrases, summaries and direct quotations.
Examples of Signal Phrases
Embedding Quotes Exercises Examine the following embedded quotes. Identify if they are embedded correctly. If they are not, re-write them into a correct sentence. 1. You are a fool he said, with a look of disgust. (Collins 135). 2. After chatting for a while with Rue, Katniss thought to herself, for the first time, I have a plan (Collins 287). 3. In The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, the rising action begins when she steps forward and declares, I volunteer as tribute. (22). 4. The theme of power can clearly be seen, They cut her tongue so she can t speak, says Haymitch. She s probably a traitor of some sort. (78).
Quotes with Dialogue Dialogue occurs in quotation marks because the character is speaking out loud. If you quote a piece of dialogue from literature, you must use a triple quotation mark,. This means you will use a single quotation around the dialogue then regular quotation marks around the entire quote. Additionally, you will still cite the author s name in the parentheses, never the characters name.
Examples of Quoting Dialogue My Precious, says Gollum through missing rotted teeth as he speaks to the ring(tolkien 60). When Mr. Bennet spelled out the necessities of formal introduction in the novel Pride and Prejudice, "The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, 'Nonsense, nonsense! (Austen 45). You look troubled, young Potter, said Nick, folding a transparent letter as he spoke and tucking it inside his doublet as he and Harry speak in the corridor of Hogwarts(Rowling 258).
Quoting Dialogue Exercises Punctuate each sentence as you would if you were using them as a direct quote. Include a proper in-text citation. Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven t had the advantages that you ve had. -From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Page 1 I must go, Cathy, said Heathcliff, seeking to extricate himself from his companion s arms. -From Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, page 40 I m a frog! exclaimed the prince. Oh no! said the princess, as her eyes widened in disbelief. -From The Princess and the Frog by John Joyce, Page 10