MLA Flashcards
What does MLA stand for
Modern Language Association
MLA regulates:
Document format
In text citations
Works cited list
3 Guiding Principles:
Cite simple traits shared by most works
There is more that one way to cite the same source
Make your documentation useful to readers
Basic Rule For Any Formatting Style:
Always follow your instructor’s guide line
An MLA Style Paper should:
Be typed on white 8.5” x 11” paper
Double space everything
Use 12 pt. New Roman (or similar) font
Leave only one space after punctuation
Set all margins to 1 inch on all sides
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch
Have a header with page numbers located in the upper right corner
Use italics for titles
Place endnotes on a separate page before the list of works cited
The first page of an MLA Style paper will
Have no title page
Double space everything
List your name, your instructor’s name, the course and date in the upper left-hand corner
Center the paper title( use standard caps but no underlining, italics, quote marks, or bold typeface)
Create header in the upper right corner at half inch form the top and one inch form the right of the page( list your last name and page number here)
Day, month, year for date
Paragraph, they just hit enter and there is no extra space
In-Text Citations:
An in text citation is a brief reference in your text that indicates the source you consulted
It should direct readers to the entry in your works cited list for that source
It should be unobtrusive: provide the citation information without interrupting your own text
In general the in text citation will be the authors last name( not abbreviated with a page number and closed parentheses.
If you mention the author’s last name before the in text citation you don’t need to include it in the in-text citation
How to write a work with no known author:
Title of the article with the page number
Work with multiple editions:
Write addition number, semicolon, chapter or page number
Authors with same name:
List first initial
If first is the name use second
Work by multiple authors:
Use et al. for 3 or more
Example (Smith et al. 76)
If there are 2 authors type both names out
Multiple works by same author
Indicate which text you are talking about by mentioning the author and use an in text citation,If you don’t mention author in your writing use comma last name, title page number
Sources without page numbers:
Needs to include author’s name
If missing author and page number title goes in parenthesis
In- text example adding words or taking away words
If adding or changing words add brackets
If taking words out, tell readers by using . . .
Works cited page and what to include
Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.
Author
Begin the entry with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name, as presented in the work . end this element with a period
Title of source
Books and websites should be in italics
Periodicals ( journal. Magazine newspaper article), television episodes and songs should be in quotation marks
Period ends it
Container would be the show not the episode or the book not the chapter. Holds what you’re looking for
Other contributors
Anyone who has helped out in any type of way
Version
If a source is listed as an edition or version of a work, include it in your citation
Number
If a source is part of a numbered sequence, such as a multi-volume book, or journal with both volume and issue numbers, those numbers must be listed in your citation.
Publication Date
The same source may have been published on more than one date, such as an online version of an original source. When the source has more than one date, use the date that is most relevant to your use of it.
Publisher
produces or distributes the source to the public. If there is more than one publisher and they are all relevant to your research, list them in your citation, separated by a forward slash(/).
Location
Be as specific as possible in identifying a work’s location
Optional Elements
Date of original publication
City of publication
URLs or *
DOIs ( digital object identifier)*
Date of access*
