MLA Format 9th Edition - The Basics

This presentation will walk students through the basics of citing a source in MLA 9th edition format.

1. MLA Format 9 th Edition – The Basics

2. Who/What is the MLA?

3. Who is the MLA? Modern Language Association MLA Format is a citation style that is used for many courses here at SCC. Typically used in the humanities (English, history, languages, etc.) 3

4. MLA Handbook, 9 th edition Book published by MLA. Walks readers through how to properly format, write, and cite in MLA. Newest edition: 2021. MLA Style Center: https://style.mla.org/ 4

5. How to Format your Paper

6. What does an MLA formatted paper look like? Double-spaced 12 point, Times New Roman Font 1-inch margins (Standard setting on Word) Header with last name and page number Heading with your name, instructor name, course, and date. SCC Library: Formatting your Word Document 6

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8. MLA Citations

9. In-Text Citations

10. What are In-Text Citations? Direct quotations or paraphrases that you are using in the body of your text. In-text citations should connect to an entry in your Works Cited page. Generally include the author’s last name or abbreviated title (when there is no author) and page number (if available). 10

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12. In-Text Citations Examples 1 author with page numbers (Hennessy 81) (Hennessy 81-82) No Page Numbers (“Everyday Victims”) (Jones) No Author: use shortened version of title (“Noon” 508) ( Faulkner’s Novels 25) 12

13. In-Text Citations Examples 2 Authors ( Dorris and Erdrich 23) 3 or More Authors (Burdick et al. 42) 13

14. In-Text Citations Examples Author/Title Mentioned in the Sentence Example 1: Hennessy tells how Auden’s writing was popular with contemporary readers and critics (81). Example 2: Galt says, "an increasing number of companies have a dedicated social media position" (122). Example 3 (no author): In the article, "Beginners Guide to Yoga," the standing forward bend is highlighted as a great position for people with back pain (130). 14

15. In-Text Citations Examples Example 4 (no page numbers): Smith reports that there are many options for paid social meeting monitoring services and the cost varies considerably. Example 5 (no page numbers): Groves says that "regular yoga practice can be good for building strength." 15

16. Check out the Library In-Text Citation Guide for more Examples!

17. Works Cited

18. Core Elements 18 Pieces of information you use to create your citation. Not every citation will have every element. Don’t have an element?: Skip it!

19. Author Who is responsible for creating the work? Person Group of people Organization Artist Musical Group Online Username 19

20. Author 20 Place a period ( . ) after the author name. Authors Rule Examples No Author If no author given, skip the author and start with the title of source.   1 Author Last Name, First Name. Smith, John. 2 Authors Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Smith, John, and Mary Fields. 3+ Authors Last Name, First Name of First Author, et al. Smith, John, et al. Association or Company Use the name of the association or company as the author. If a work is written and published by an organization, list the organization as publisher only. American Cancer Society. Pseudonyms Use pseudonyms and online usernames like regular author names. @jsmith. Editor or other role If the role of that person or group is something other than creating the work’s main content (as the author), follow the name with a label that describes the role. Only do this in the author field if it is important to highlight this person; otherwise use the Other Contributors field. Nunberg , Geoffrey, editor.

21. Title of Source What is the title of the work? Name of Book Name of Specific Article Short Story Name Title of Painting Name of Song If there isn’t a title, provide a description of the source. 21

22. Title of Source 22 Place a period ( . ) after title of source. Source Rule: Italics or “quotation marks” Example Entire Book Italicize self-contained works The Awakening. Collection of Essays Italicize self-contained works The Norton Introduction to Literature, Essay, encyclopedia entry, story, or poem Contained in a larger work (book, website, etc.); use “quotation marks” “The Cultural Consequences of Printing.” Play Italicize plays even if they are in a larger work. Romeo and Juliet. Article from Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper Contained in a larger work (journal), use “quotation marks” “Literary History and Sociology.” Entire Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper Italicize self-contained works The Georgia Review. Entire Website Italicize self-contained works WebMD . Website Article Contained in a larger work (website) use “quotation marks” “Free Will.” Song Contained in a larger work (album) use “quotation marks” “Pretty Hurts.”

23. Italics or “Quotation Marks?” 23 Is the source published in a larger work? Yes No Use “quotation marks” Italicize Exception : Plays and novels are always italicized, even when they are contained within a larger work.

24. Practice: Italics or “Quotation Marks” 24 Beloved by Toni Morrison (a book) Is the source published in a larger work? Yes No Italicize Citation: Morrison, Toni. Beloved . Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1987.

25. Practice: Italics or “Quotation Marks” 25 Academic Journal Article Is the source published in a larger work? Yes No Use “quotation marks” Citation: Currie, Peg. “Considerations for Nursing Practice.” Critical Care Nurse , vol. 28, no. 5, October 2008, pp. 86-87.

26. Title of Container Container: a work that contains another work. A journal contains the articles. An album contains the songs. The English textbook contains the short stories. Not all sources have a container! 26

27. Title of Container 27 Larger Work Journal contains the article inside it. Smaller Work Article is contained in the journal.

28. Title of Container 28 Always italicize containers, and place a comma ( , ) after the container title. Source Example Journal, magazine, newspaper (holds articles) Journal of History, Book (that is a collection of essays, stories, etc.) Short Stories for Students, Website (contains articles, posts, videos etc.) CNN, YouTube, Forbes Online, Database (usually container 2, contains journals, etc.) Gale Power Search

29. Example Containers: Part of Book 29

30. Example Containers: Article from a Website 30

31. Example Containers: Print Article 31

32. Example Container: Article from Database 32

33. Other Contributors A contributor is someone who contributed to the work without being the author/creator. Editors Translators Directors Composers Not every source will have other contributors! 33

34. Other Contributors 34 Always place a comma ( , ) after name(s) of contributors. Contributor Rule Example Editor For reference works, include name of editor. edited by John K. Reeves, Audiovisual Roles For audiovisual works, include relevant contributors such the director, performers, etc. directed by Stephen Spielberg, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Other roles Include a description for any other relevant roles illustrated by …, translated by …,

35. Version or Edition Has the work been released in more than one form? Edition Director’s Cut 35

36. Version or Edition 36 You do not have to list the First Edition of a source, unless it is specifically called the First Edition. Always place a comma ( , ) after edition or version. Version Example Edition 2nd ed., 3rd ed., revised ed., expanded ed., etc. Version unabridged version, director’s cut, Authorized King James Version

37. Number Is the work part of a numbered sequence? Volumes of a book or journal. Comic book issues. Television episodes. 37

38. Number 38 Always place a comma ( , ) after number. Source Rule Example Books If part of a multivolume set, include the vol. # used Short Stories For Students , vol. 3, Periodicals Include volume and issue number (if listed) Georgia Review , vol. 64, no. 1,

39. Publisher Who published or produced the work? Book publisher Studio/network that created a film. Organization who created a website. Theatre company who performed a play. 39

40. Do you Always need to Include the Publisher? Not always! Do not include publisher name if: You’re citing a periodical (journal, magazine, or newspaper) Self-published works Websites whose titles are the same as their publisher, like YouTube 40

41. Publisher 41 Publisher Names : Drop business words like Company, Limited, Corporation , etc. Abbreviate University Press as UP. Always place a comma ( , ) after publisher. Source Rule Periodicals Do not list a publisher for periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers). Websites If a website’s publisher is essentially the same as its title (i.e. YouTube is published by YouTube), skip the publisher.

42. Publication Date When was the work created? No date is very common! Full date. Seasonal date. Multiple dates (usually for different editions). 42

43. Publication Date 43 Abbreviate months except May, June, July (Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.) Always place a comma ( , ) after publication date. Date Rule No Date If no date, omit date. However, if source is online, include the access date at the end of the citation after the Location field: Accessed 23 July 2015. Full Date Give the full date whenever available (day, month, and year). Always give the most specific date possible. Format the date as follows: Day Month Year (i.e. 16 Aug. 2016). Seasonal Date Usually with periodicals; include the season: spring 2014 Multiple dates When a source carries more than one date, cite the date that is most relevant to your purpose. For books, usually you want the most recent copyright date; unless, you discuss the history around its original publishing.

44. Location Where did you find the source? Page Numbers. Database Name. URL/DOI. Physical location (for artwork or theatre). 44

45. Location 45 Always place a period ( . ) after location. Source Rule Sources with Page Numbers (print or electronic) Cite the page range for the source -- the entire article or entire chapter you’re using. If the source is only one page: p. 5. If the source is multiple pages: pp. 10-17. If the source is printed on nonconsecutive pages: pp. 53+. Websites Cite the URL (Web Address) for your source, unless your instructor doesn’t want it. Try to use a permalink or stable URL if possible. Do not include: http://. Only list: www.forbes.com Online Article with DOI Always use the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) instead of a URL if available: doi:10.1037/rmh0000008 If article has both page numbers and DOI, use both (separated by a comma). Physical Location For physical locations (such as a work of art in a museum or a live speech or concert viewed in person), give the name of the place and its city (but omit the city if it’s included in the place name). Only use this if you were actually at the location in person; not for digital reproductions. Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. (city not listed after because it’s in the name of the venue) Museum of Modern Art, New York. (city listed after)

46. Library MLA Resources MLA Guide How to Find Citation Information Guide Ask a Librarian 46

47. 47 Thanks! Any questions? Feel free to Ask a Librarian!

48. Credits Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: Presentation template by SlidesCarnival 48