MLA Works Cited Lists Handout by Angela Gulick, Parkland College Writing Lab, July 2016

In April 2016, the Modern Language Association (MLA) came out with completely new rules for how to set up a Works Cited list. The following pages walk you through this new process step-by-step. However, let’s first look at the general formatting rules for a Works Cited list.

Formatting Guidelines for Works Cited Lists

1. If you have one source, put the singular Work Cited at the top center of your page. 2. If you have more than one source, put the plural Works Cited at the top center of your page. 3. Works Cited lists are double-spaced both within and between entries. There are no extra

spaces between different entries. 4. Works Cited lists use a hanging indent (each line of a Works Cited entry after the first line is

indented ½ inch from the left). To learn how to create a hanging indent, check out this video: https://youtu.be/0yq_LHWB29Q.

5. Works Cited entries are alphabetized by author’s last name or first major word of source’s title (not counting the words A, An, and The) if there is no clearly named author.

6. Works Cited entries use title capitalization (all nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs are capitalized) but not words like minor words such as articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and/but/for/nor/so/yet/or), and prepositions (of/in/out/with/among).

7. Dates are written in the following order: Day Month Year (example: 22 Dec. 2006). 8. All months other than May, June, and July are abbreviated.

Sample Works Cited List

Bull, Holly. “The Possibilities of the Gap Year.” Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 52, no. 44, 7

July 2006, pp. 77-79. Professional Development Collection, doi: 37163.dswes.28.

Chatzky, Jean. “If Your Kid Wants to Find Himself, Just Say Yes.” Money, vol. 34, no. 12, Dec.

2005, pp. 40-42. Academic Search Complete, doi: 008473.s3s.723.

DeLuca, Stefanie. “Opposing View: Delay Is a Disadvantage.” USAToday.com, Gannett Company,

26 Feb. 2008, www.usatoday30.usatoday.com/printedition/oppose26.art.htm.

Fitzsimmons, William, et al. “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation.” Harvard College

Admissions Office, Harvard University, 2006, www.college.harvard.edu/admissions/

preparing-college/should-i-take-time.

Gose, Ben. Personal interview. 9 Apr. 2008.

Grume, Richard. “Is That Child Really Ready for College?” Journal of College Admission, vol. 188,

Summer 2005, pp. 6-9. WilsonSelectPlus.

The New “One Size Fits All” MLA Template

With the new edition of MLA documentation, there is one template into which you plug the details of your source as best you can. MLA calls the nine details below “core components.” There will be some sources for which you cannot find some of this information, so you skip those details.

The Nine Core Components Author.

Title of Source.

Title of Container,

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher,

Publication Date,

Location.

Author.

“Author” is defined as “the person or group primarily responsible for producing the work or the aspect of the work that you focused on” (22). The author of a source can come in many forms: one author; two authors; three or more authors; a government, university, organization, or association author, an editor (if no author exists); a translator (if no author exists); a pseudonym (a pretend name such as you would find on an internet source); or no author at all. Here are some examples:

Source with No Named Author: Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics. <<< When there is no named author, list source by first major word of title not counting the words A, An, and The.

Source with One Author: Dobson, Janice R. <<< Note that name is listed “backwards” (Dobson, Janice R. not Janice R. Dobson).

Source with Two Authors: Doud, Brian J., and Jill M. Wagner. <<< Note that only first listed author’s name is “backwards” (Doud, Brian J., not Brian J. Doud).

Source with Three or More Authors: Koenigs, Laurie J., et al. <<< Provide first listed author’s name only followed by the words “et al.,” which mean “and others.” This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

Source with a Government, University, Organization, or Association Author: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowa State University, American Lung Association, Random Acts

Source with an Editor or Editors: Stoltz, Jennie J., and Amy L. Gilligan, editors. <<< If there is no author, list editor or editors as if they were authors (see source with two authors example above).

Source with a Translator or Translators: Pfeiffer, Lisa A., and Mark D. Zinn, translators. <<< If there is no author, list translator or translators as if they were authors (see source with two authors example above).

Source with a Pseudonym: If an author name and pseudonym are both provided, cite by author’s name and then put pseudonym in parentheses if both details would be relevant to your reader: Gulick, Angela M. (@jaspersgirl). If only a pseudonym exists, cite source by the pseudonym only.

Title of Source.

It can be challenging to determine the title of a source, particularly if the source is contained in a larger source, such as a chapter from a book, an article in a magazine, a song on a CD, an episode of television from a series, or an essay in a collection of essays. Try to find the most specific title that is the most closely connected to the subject matter you are focusing on in your assignment. Article titles typically appear at the top of a document, are often centered, and are usually in larger print. Here are some general reminders and examples:

If the source is a small piece that is part of a larger source (such as a chapter title, article title, song title, single episode of television, essay title), enclose that title in “quotation marks.”

If the source is the entire work itself (such as the entire name of a book, magazine, newspaper, website, television series, motion picture, CD, DVD), italicize the title.

Use title capitalization for all titles (capitalize all nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). However, don’t capitalize words like articles (a, the, an), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, nor, for, or, yet, so), and prepositions (of, with, in, on, among).

Don’t replicate any unusual typography even if it was in the original title, such as random capitalization or all capital letters. Original Title: WHY DO THEY HAVE TO TALK SO FAST? AN ANALYSIS OF SPEECH

PATTERNS IN LORALAI AND RORY GILMORE

Title Using Title Capitalization: Why Do They Have to Talk So Fast? An Analysis of Speech Patterns in Loralai and Rory Gilmore

Article from a Website Entire Website

“Clothes Make the Man (or Woman)” Career Planning Fundamentals

Article from a Newspaper Entire Newspaper

"You Can Buy a Colorado Ghost Town Off Craigslist for $350,000”

The Denver Post <<< If the name of the city of publication is not already part of the newspaper’s name, add the city in [brackets] immediately after the newspaper name: The News Gazette [Champaign].

Song Title from a CD Entire CD

“Carry on My Wayward Son” The Best of Kansas

Episode of a Television Series Entire Television Series

“LARP and the Real Girl.” Supernatural

Essay out of Edited Collection or Anthology Entire Edited Collection or Anthology

“We’re Not Exactly the Brady Bunch” In the Hunt: Unauthorized Essays about Supernatural

Online Video Title Entire Website

“Game of Thrones S6E10 Explained: Winter is Coming”

YouTube

Tweet Entire Website

“I assume cereal boxes are single serving.” Twitter

Title of Container,

OK, here is where the new MLA guidelines can get a bit confusing, so here we go. Think of many sources as being “contained” within larger sources: a song is “contained” on a CD; an episode of television is “contained” within the larger television series; a newspaper article is “contained” in the newspaper, a chapter is “contained” within a textbook, an online video is “contained” on a website such as YouTube or Yahoo, an article is “contained” in a specific magazine or journal. However, sometimes, these larger containers are “contained” inside even larger containers, sort of like Russian nesting dolls:

When it comes to “containers,” you have to sometimes think about a source being contained in multiple containers in order to provide the information your reader will need to track down the source in the real world. Sources that often have more than one container include episodes of television programs, database articles, or any source that appears as part of a larger series. Here are some common examples that show the multiple levels of containers you need to think about.

Episode of Television Container 1: TV Series Container 2: Provider

“My Kid Stays in the Picture” “Winter is Coming” “Swan Song”

The Mindy Project Game of Thrones Supernatural

Hulu HBO The CW

Article from Online Journal Container 1: Online Journal Container 2: Database

“Detection and Visualization of Emotion in Online Coverage about HBO’s Game of Thrones”

Information Processing and Management

Business Source Elite

Downloaded Song Container 1: Original CD Container 2: Provider

“Cole’s Song” Mr. Holland’s Opus iTunes

Essay out of a Book Container 1: Title of Book Container 2: Series

“Santaland Diaries” Holidays on Ice The Ultimate David Sedaris Box Set

Online Video Container 1: Producer Container 2: Platform

Charlie and the Unicorn Filmcow Productions YouTube

Remember, your goal is to relay to the reader where YOU found the source.

Other Contributors,

Listing “other contributors” is something of a judgment call; you need to look at those aspects of the source you are focusing on. For example, if you are citing a film and focusing on the acting, you would include the major performers here. Or, if you were focusing on the direction, you would include the director or directors. Language to look for in terms of including other contributors includes the following: adapted by, directed by, edited by, illustrated by, introduction by, narrated by, performances by, translated by. You write out these terms rather than abbreviate them (Edited by…, not Ed. or Eds. Translated by…, not Tran. Or Trans.). This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

Examples of Other Contributors

Episode of Television Other Contributors (Based on Focus)

“Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose” Performances by David Duchovney, Gillian Anderson, and Peter Boyle

Directed by David Nutter

Article Translated from Another Language Other Contributors

“An Examination of the Four Seasons in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale”

Translated by Josephina L. Morgan

Article from an Edited Collection/Anthology Other Contributors

“Revenge and Retribution Cersei Style: Women and Power in the Seven Kingdoms”

Edited by Nicole Daynes and Sally Hartford

Forward or Introduction to a Book Other Contributors:

“Introduction to All Those Positive Ions: Essays about Living on or Near Water.”

Introduction by Reggie R. Taylor

Version,

Books are often published in different versions, especially if the book has been updated. Look for these words: numbered edition (such as 2nd edition), revised edition, expanded edition, unabridged version, version number (such as version 4.2), or director’s cut (for a film or television show).

Number,

Some sources are published daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally.

If a source has a volume number, write vol. # (vol. 3). If a source has a volume and issue, write vol. #, no. # (vol. 3, no. 22). This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If a source is a television episode, write season, episode (such as season 4, episode 8).

Publisher,

Not all sources will have publishers. Periodicals (newspapers, magazines, journals, and trade publications) tend to lack publishers. However, books and websites tend to have publishers. If you don’t find any clearly named publisher, you just skip this step. You no longer have to write “N.p.” for “No publisher.” This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If source has multiple publishers that have equal responsibility for publishing, provide names of the publishers separated by a forward slash (/). Here is an example: Bedford/St. Martins.

If source’s publication date is before 1900 and there is no clearly named publisher, you may provide the city of publication in place of the publisher’s name. Otherwise, you do not need to provide a city of publication. This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If your source is a website, the publisher can often be found at the bottom of the webpage next to a copyright date. Here is an example: © 2016 American Diabetes Association.

With publisher names, omit words such as Company/Co., Corporation/Corp., Incorporated/Inc., Limited/Ltd, Publisher/Publishing/Pub.

For academic presses (publishers closely connected to universities), use UP (which stands for University Press). Here are two examples: Iowa State UP and University of Illinois UP.

Publication Date,

Many, but not all, sources have dates of publication. Here are some tips to find the correct dates:

If you can find no date of any kind, omit this step. You no longer have to write “n.d.” for “no date). This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If you find a date, provide all the details that were originally listed on your source.

If multiple dates are listed on the source, provide the most recent date you can find.

Dates are written in the following order: Day Month Year (example: 22 Dec. 2006).

All months other than May, June, and July are abbreviated.

If a season is provided as part of the date, include it and capitalize the season’s name. Here is an example: Winter 2015.

For websites, if you can find no date at all, provide the date you accessed the information.

For websites, look for last updated, last revised, current version to find the most current date.

For websites, a copyright date is not the same as a date of publication. A copyright date is a legal term involving legal ownership of material, not necessarily the date of publication.

Location.

The location of information will vary depending upon the type of source you are citing, but these are the most common location indicators you will find:

Sources with Pre-printed Page Numbers: If your document has pre-printed page numbers, you will use p. (for one page, such as p.

32) or pp. (for multiple pages in sequential order, such as pp. 32-36). This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If you have a document that begins on one page but continues on in a non-sequential way, simply put the first page number and add a plus sign: pp. 32+. This indicates that the article may have appeared on pages 32, 33, and 36.

Include page numbers for books only if you are citing a specific chapter from a book or an essay from a collection of essays or an anthology. Otherwise, omit page numbers.

Electronic Sources Such as Database Articles, Electronic Books, and Websites: If your source has something called a DOI (Digital Object Identfier), provide this number

instead of a URL address because a DOI is more permanent, whereas a URL address can change at any time. The most common place you will find a DOI is database articles. Here is an example: doi: 10.165s48.45dses2. This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If your source has a URL address, provide the address without the http://. Here is an example: www.uaa.alaska.edu/tjenkins/rhetoric. This represents a change from the 7th edition of MLA.

If your source has neither a URL address nor a DOI, skip this step.

Media Sources such as DVDs If you are using a source that is part of a DVD set, include the disc number (such as disc 4).

Physical Objects Such as Works of Art You Witnessed in Person: For something you witnessed firsthand, indicate the name of the institution and provide the

city of the institution if it isn’t already part of the institution’s name. Here are two examples: Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. or Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (note that city name has been omitted since it is part of the name of the museum).

Sample Works Cited Entries for Print, Internet, Media, and Personal Communication Sources

Note: Works Cited entries in these examples are single-spaced in this handout to save room.

However, you would double-space these entries on your actual Works Cited list.

Print Sources

Book with One Author

Author. Louise Fitzhugh

Title of Source. Harriet the Spy

Title of Container,

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher, Harper and Row

Publication Date, 2016

Location.

Citation: Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet the Spy. Harper and Row, 2016.

Book with Two Authors

Author. Brian Doud and Jonathan Hostager

Title of Source. Life among the Pines: True Tales of Trailer Park Life

Title of Container,

Other Contributors, Introduction by Michael J. Dickman

Version,

Number,

Publisher, Cool Ranch Books

Publication Date, 2014

Location.

Citation: Doud, Brian J., and Jonathan L. Hostager. Life among the Pines: True Tales of Trailer Park Life.

Introduction by Michael J. Dickman, Cool Ranch Books, 2014.

Book with Three or More Authors

Author. Yvonne Miller-Nixon, Laurie Koenigs, and Jill Wagner

Title of Source. Adventures at Dugan’s Deli

Title of Container,

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher, Iowa State University UP

Publication Date, 2011

Location.

Citation: Miller-Nixon, Yvonne, et al. Adventures at Dugan’s Deli. Iowa State University UP, 2011.

Essay from an Edited Collection or Anthology

Author. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Title of Source. “The Birthmark”

Title of Container, Major Writers of Short Fiction

Other Contributors, edited by Ann Charters

Version, 4th edition

Number,

Publisher, Bedford Books of St. Martin Press

Publication Date, 1993

Location. pp. 500-511

Citation: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Birthmark.” Major Writers of Short Fiction, edited by Ann Charters, 4th

edition, Bedford Books of St. Martin Press, 1993, pp. 500-511.

Article from a Print Magazine

Author. Michael Kinsley

Title of Source. “Stamp of Scandals”

Title of Container, Vanity Fair

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number, no. 671

Publisher, Condé Nast

Publication Date, Summer 2016

Location. pp. 80-83

Citation: Kinsley, Michael. “Stamp of Scandals.” Vanity Fair, no. 671, Condé Nast, Summer 2016, pp. 80-83.

Article from a Print Newspaper

Author. Johnathan Hettinger

Title of Source. “In Wake of National Unrest over Police Relations, Local Group Addresses Current Efforts, Needs”

Title of Container, News-Gazette [Champaign]

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher, The News-Gazette

Publication Date, 13 July 2016

Location. pp. 3+

Citation: Hettinger, Johnathan. “In Wake of National Unrest over Police Relations, Local Group Addresses Current

Efforts, Needs.” News-Gazette [Champaign], The News-Gazette, 13 July 2016, pp. 3+.

Internet Sources

Online Newspaper Article

Author. Judith Graham

Title of Source. “In California, Intense Debate over Home Care”

Title of Container, NYTimes.com

Other Contributors,

Version, US edition

Number,

Publisher, The New York Times

Publication Date, 30 Aug. 2013

Location. www.newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013

Citation: Graham, Judith. “In California, Intense Debate over Home Care.” NYTimes.com, US edition, The New York

Times, 30 Aug. 2013, www.newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013.

Online Database Journal Article Note: Articles from databases often have 2 containers:

Container #1: The newspaper, magazine, or journal in which article appeared. Container #2: The database in which the journal appears.

Author. Robin J. Trupp

Title of Source. “Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure”

Title of Container # 1, Advanced Critical Care

Other Contributors,

Version, vol. 27

Number, no. 1

Publisher,

Publication Date, Mar. 2016

Location. pp. 15-20

Title of Container # 2, CINAHL

Location. doi: 10.4037/aacnacc

Citation: Trupp, Robin J. “Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure.” Advanced Critical

Care, vol. 27, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 15-20. CINAHL, doi: 10.4037/aacnacc.

Online Website Article

Author. Joshua Rothman

Title of Source. “The Nostalgic Science Fiction of The X-Files”

Title of Container, The New Yorker

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher, Condé Nast

Publication Date, January 23, 2016 Location. www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-nostalgia-science-fiction-of-the-x-files

Citation: Rothman, Joshua. “The Nostalgic Science Fiction of The X-Files.” The New Yorker, Condé Nast, 23 Jan.

2016, www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-nostalgia-science-fiction-of-the-x-files

YouTube Video Note: Online videos often have 2 containers:

Container #1: The program or website which created the online video. Container #2: The streaming platform on which the video appears.

Author.

Title of Source. “Come Inside the Clinic and Look at the Vet Life”

Title of Container # 1, Animal Planet

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher,

Publication Date, 6 June 2016

Location.

Title of Container # 2, YouTube

Location. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeGhtqutnw

Citation: “Come Inside the Clinic and Look at the Vet Life.” Animal Planet, 6 June 2016. YouTube,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeGhtqutnw.

eBook

Author. Ann Wortinger and Kara M. Burns

Title of Source. Nutrition and Disease Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses

Title of Container, EBSCO Academic Ebooks

Other Contributors,

Version, 2nd edition

Number,

Publisher, John Wiley & Sons

Publication Date, 2015

Location. www.EBSCOAcademic/Wortinger.Burns/4615452

Citation: Woringer, Ann, and Kara M. Burns. Nutrition and Disease Management for Veterinary Technicians and

Nurses. EBSCO Academic Ebooks, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2015, www.EBSCOAcademic/Wortinger.Burns/4615452.

Posting from a Blog

Author. Jill M. Wagner

Title of Source. “If You Love Something, Set It Free”

Title of Container, Simplicity and Frugality Blog

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher, Blogger.com

Publication Date, 13 June 2013

Location. www.simplicityandfrugality.blogspot.com/if-you-love-somethingset-it-free.html

Citation: Wagner, Jill M. “If You Love Something Set It Free.” Simplicity and Frugality Blog, Blogger.com, 13 June

2013, www.simplicityandfrugality.blogspot.com/if-you-love-somethingset-it-free.html.

Media and Personal Communication Sources

Motion Picture on DVD Where Student Paper Focused on Directing and Acting

Author. Mike White

Title of Source. School of Rock

Title of Container

Other Contributors, Directed by Richard Linklater, Performances by Jack Black and Mike White

Version, DVD

Number,

Publisher, Paramount

Publication Date, 2004

Location.

Citation: White, Mike. School of Rock. Directed by Richard Linklater, performances by Jack Black and Mike White,

DVD, Paramount, 2004.

Television Show Broadcast Where Student Paper Focused on Direction

Author. Dick Wolf and Josh Singer

Title of Source. “Unorthodox”

Title of Container, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Other Contributors, Directed by David Platt

Version,

Number, season 6, episode 11

Publisher, NBC, WAND-TV (network, station)

Publication Date, 11 May 2008 (date of original broadcast)

Location.

Citation: Wolf, Dick, and Josh Singer. “Unorthodox.” Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Directed by David Platt,

season 6, episode 11, NBC, WAND-TV, 11 May 2008.

Television Show on DVD Where Student Paper Focused on Choreography Note: Episodes of television often have 2 containers:

Container #1: The name of the series in which the episode appeared. Container #2: The name of the DVD series or streaming platform (Netflix, Hulu, HBO).

Author. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

Title of Source. “Vitamin D”

Title of Container #1, Glee

Other Contributors, Choreographed by Zach Woodlee and Brooke Lipton

Version,

Number,

Publisher, 20th Century Fox

Publication Date, 14 Sept. 2010 (date of release)

Location.

Container #2, Glee Season 1 Box Set

Location. disc 1, episode 6

Citation: Murphy, Ryan and Brad Falchuk. “Vitamin D.” Glee, Choreographed by Zach Woodlee and Brook Lipton,

20th Century Fox, 14 Sept. 2010. Glee Season 1 Box Set, disc 1, episode 6.

Musical Composition Where Student Paper Focused on Production and Arrangement

Author. John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Title of Source. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”

Title of Container # 1, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Other Contributors, Produced and arranged by George H. Martin

Version, Original recording

Number,

Publisher, Capitol Records

Publication Date, 8 Sept. 2009

Location. disc 1

Citation: Lennon, John, and Paul McCartney. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.” Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,

Produced and arranged by George H. Martin, Original recording, Capitol Records, 8 Sept. 2009, disc 1.

Personal or Telephone Interviews

Author. Amy Myers

Title of Source.

Title of Container, Personal interview

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher,

Publication Date, 14 July 2016

Location.

Citation: Myers, Amy. Personal interview. 14 July 2016.

Email Messages or Personal Correspondence

Author. Lauren Oujiri

Title of Source. “Six Reasons Why Self-Care Is So Important to Physical and Mental Health”

Title of Container, Received by [Your Name].

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher,

Publication Date, 15 Jan. 2016

Location.

Citation: Oujiri, Lauren. “Six Reasons Why Self-Care Is So Important to Physical and Mental Health.” Received by Angela

M. Gulick, 15 Jan. 2016.

Class Lectures

Author. Adcock, Terry

Title of Source. “Types of Memory”

Title of Container, Psychology 101, Parkland College

Other Contributors,

Version,

Number,

Publisher,

Publication Date, 10 Feb. 2015

Location.

Citation: Adcock, Terry. “Types of Memory.” Psychology 101, Parkland College, 10 Feb. 2015.