Proper MLA Citation: Some Notes and Reminders. Parenthetical Citations: The Basics: – (author’s...

Proper MLA Citation:

Some Notes and Reminders

Parenthetical Citations:

• The Basics:– (author’s last name page number).– (Ibsen 1735).

• For SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS:– (ACT scene line #s).– (IV.iii.16-20).

Parentheticals DO’s and DON’Ts:

• DO put a PERIOD after the last parenthesis, NOT at the end of the quote:– Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous

overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).• DO NOT include the author’s name if you already

said it in the sentence:– Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked

by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

About Question Marks:

• Do NOT put a question mark at after the last parenthesis UNLESS the whole sentence is a question.– Is it possible that dreams may express "profound

aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?– Kurt Koffka, a Gestalt psychologist, asked "Why do

humans see their minds in terms of elementary parts?" (Gray 74).

• (You still need that final period.)

The Works Cited Page:

• ENTIRE page must be DOUBLE-SPACED.• Works must be LISTED ALPHABETICALLY.• Use REVERSE (HANGING) INDENTATION:

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. The Bedford Introduction

to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston:

Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 1713-1761. Print.

About Titles:

• Titles of books (novels, plays) must ALWAYS be ITALICIZED when typing (underlined when hand-writing). (EXCEPTION: a play that can be read in one sitting)

• THE RULE:– Long works, divided into parts, that cannot be

read in one sitting: italicize (underline)– Short works that can be read in one sitting: use

quotations marks

Quoting our Textbooks:

• For your Macbeth quotes – write down the LINE NUMBERS from the Gold Literature Book.

• For A Doll House quotes – write down the PAGE NUMBERS from your textbook.

Use Transitions!

• Connect paragraphs with appropriate transitional words and phrases.

• Here's a List

Macbeth and A Doll House on the Works Cited Page:

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. The Bedford

Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th

ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.

1713-1761. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Mirrors and

Windows: Connecting with Literature. Ed.

Brenda Owens. St. Paul: EMC publishing,

2008. 341-433. Print.

About Using Quotes:

• EVERY quote in your paper must have a “tag” – an introductory word or phrase that connects it to ANOTHER sentence.

• NO TAG:– “Macbeth is a truly evil genius” (Williams 20).

• A TAG:– Some critics say that “Macbeth is a truly evil

genius” (Williams 20).

USING quotes:

• MOST of this paper should be YOUR words.

• THUS, what you SAY about each quote should be AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG as the quote itself.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR PART BE?

“She sees herself not only as a catalyst for change, but also as the source of masculine power, which will transform Macbeth into the epitome of the heroic ideal. Rather than being a moral compass, leading her husband back from his errant ways, Lady Macbeth becomes instead the instrument of his corruption.” (Howell 11)AT LEAST FOURTEEN LINES!

Block Quotes:

The Rule: If your DIRECT QUOTE is 4 lines of typed text or longer, you must indent it in “block” form. (This means indent the whole quote two tabs over.)

A sample is one the next slide.

REMEMBER: your explanation must be TWICE as long!

Block Quotes:

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)The use of the pronoun “it” to refer to Heathcliff here clearly serves to demote him to a less-than-human status as he is

The Title of Your Paper:

• MUST indicate your TOPIC and your OPINION;• CANNOT be a sentence;• CANNOT be a question

How’s this?Women in Macbeth and A Doll’s House

Literary Analysis:

• Your paper MUST be written in PRESENT TENSE.

• INCORRECT:– When Macbeth murdered Duncan, he was under

Lady Macbeth’s influence.• CORRECT:– When Macbeth murders Duncan, he is under Lady

Macbeth’s influence.

Use These Resource:

• Formatting the First Page of Your Paper• Inserting Quotes• Search here for any MLA formatting questions

you have.

• Use this resource to help with your Works Cited page but be SURE to double-check the formatting!