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MLA Style In-Text and Works

CitedChristopher Hall

Adjunct Professor of English

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In-Text Citation

The Basics

In-Text Citation

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing

In research papers and forums, you should quote from a source:

• to show that an authority supports your point• to present a position or argument to critique or comment on• to include especially moving or historically significant

language• to present a particularly well-stated passage whose

meaning would be lost or changed if paraphrased or summarizedParaphrasing vs. Quoting – Explanation. University of Wisconsin – Madison Writing

Center, 2 July 2012. Web. 10 November 2014.

In-Text Citation

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing

You should summarize or paraphrase when

• what you want from the source is the idea expressed, and not the specific language used to express it

• you can express in fewer words what the key point of a source is

Paraphrasing vs. Quoting – Explanation. University of Wisconsin – Madison Writing Center, 2 July 2012. Web. 10 November 2014.

In-Text Citation

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing

• When you are paraphrasing, you need make sure that you are not copying the original author’s wording or their style. This can fall into the category of plagiarism despite the citation.

• When paraphrasing it is good idea to take notes of the author’s main points and then write your sentence without even looking at the original. Afterwards, make a comparison to ensure you have paraphrased correctly.

• There are great examples at this site: https://www.indiana.edu/~istd/example1paraphrasing.html

In-Text Citation

Signaling Phrases

• It is important to make sure you are using signaling phrases to introduce your quotes. You never want to just drop a quotation into the paper without warning and without context.

• Quotes cannot stand alone in a paper. They must always appear in the paper as part of one of your own sentences.

In-Text Citation

Signaling Phrases

Example:

As Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, “Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind” (1).

In-Text Citation

Signaling Phrases

Example:

As Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, “Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind” (1).

In-Text Citation

Proper Punctuation

Example:

As Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, “Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind” (1).

In-Text Citation

Author/Page Number Citations

Example:

According to a famous early American writer, “Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind” (Emerson 1).

In-Text Citation

Sources Without an Author

Example:

A New York Times editorial called Ralph Ellison “a writer of universal reach” (“Death” A18).

“Death of a Writer.” Editorial. New York Times 20 Apr. 1994, late ed.: A18. Print.

In-Text Citation

Sources Without an Author

Example:

A New York Times editorial called Ralph Ellison “a writer of universal reach” (“Death” A18).

“Death of a Writer.” Editorial. New York Times 20 Apr. 1994, late ed.: A18. Print.

Example is credited to Kaywan Chan, Francine Egger-Sider, Tom Fink, Louise Fluk, Clementine Lewis, Elizabeth Namei, Steven Ovadia, Betty Schlissel, and Marie Cimino Spina of the Library Media Center at LaGuardia Community College.

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Works Cited

The Basics

Works Cited

• Since we are focusing on sources from the APUS databases, I will limit the focus here to the formatting style for sources from an online scholarly journal.

Last, First M. "Article Title." Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year

Published): Page(s). Website Title. Web. Date Month Year

Accessed.

Works Cited

Works Cited

• You start out with the author’s name

Gilroy, Paul. "Article Title." Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year

Published): Page(s). Website Title. Web. Date Month Year

Accessed.

Works Cited

• Next is the title of the article.

Gilroy, Paul. “Multiculture, Double Consciousness and the ‘War on

Terror.’" Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year Published):

Page(s). Website Title. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.

Works Cited

• Now we are ready for the Journal title, volume number, issue number, year of publication, and page range.

Gilroy, Paul. “Multiculture, Double Consciousness and the ‘War on

Terror.’” Patterns of Prejudice 39.4 (Dec. 2005):

431-43. Website Title. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.

Works Cited

• At last you are ready to finish the citation with the name of the database and date of access.

Gilroy, Paul. “Multiculture, Double Consciousness and the ‘War on

Terror.’” Patterns of Prejudice 39.4 (Dec. 2005):

431-43. EBSCOHost. Web. 16 November 2014.

Works Cited

• We now have a completed works cited entry. Make sure you notice the hanging indention.

Gilroy, Paul. “Multiculture, Double Consciousness and the ‘War on

Terror.’” Patterns of Prejudice 39.4 (Dec. 2005):

431-43. EBSCOHost. Web. 14 November 2014.

Should you have any questions, concerns, or difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best,Christopher Hall