MLA Documentation Overview (2009
MLA Guidelines)
By Kelli McBride
When using material from
outside sources, we must document that use or else we are guilty of
plagiarism. The Modern Language
Association (MLA) has a 2-step process: parenthetical notation and a works
cited page. The LB Brief handbook presents
more detailed information. You can find a sample research paper that shows not
only how to use parenthetical notation but also how to format a works cited
page.
Parenthetical Notation:
This is the in-text
information you give the reader at the time you use outside material. At the
end of the sentence or passage in which you have quoted, paraphrased, or
summarized a source, you use a parenthesis to indicate author and page number.
· A quotation would look like this: “Anger and
bitterness had preyed upon me continually for weeks” (Keller 147).
·
A summary of
Keller’s words would look like this: Before Helen Keller met Anne Sullivan and
learned about language, her life was full of rage and frustration (147).
Notice the difference in the
parenthetical information. If I use Keller’s name in my sentence and that
clearly identifies her as the author of the information, then I only need to
use the page number in parentheses. An
exception to this rule is if I have more than one work by Keller that I cite in
my essay. Look in the handbook for more details on using parenthetical
notation.
Works Cited:
The second step to complete
documentation is the works cited page, which always appears as the last page in
an essay. This page lists the complete
publication information for each source you use in an essay. Without this page,
we would have to put all the information in our text, which would be
distracting. A works cited page has the following rules:
1.
Always
alphabetize by author’s last name (or if no author given, the title of the
source). So Helen Keller’s piece would be listed under K for Keller.
2.
Always double
space, using NO extra space between sources.
3.
Use hanging
indent for each entry (first line is flush with the margin and subsequent lines
in that entry are indented).
4.
Include
information concerning publication. This differs for the type of source, and
those differences are listed in the handbook. Here’s how a work cited entry
from Helen Keller would look:
Work Cited
Keller, Helen. “The Day Language Came
into My Life.” The Power of Language; The
Language of Power. Ed. Christian Morgan, et al. 3rd ed. NY: Learning
Solutions, 2010. 147-49. Print.
Because individual sources
have different information that needs citing, you should refer to your handbook
for more details.
To create the works cited
page, you can also use http://easybib.com.