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MLA Handbook by
Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts--middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields--the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook offers *New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language *Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project *Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before *A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more *Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources *Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work *Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes *Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism *A sample essay in MLA format *Annotated bibliography examples *Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation *Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
Here are some quick links to important information about writing research papers and properly citing your sources.
One of the easiest ways for a beginner to follow MLA style is to type over a template or paper already in APA style. With a template, the margins, font, headings, and other style features are already set. You just insert your content.
Microsoft Word includes an MLA template you can start with. It may be installed on your computer with Microsoft Word.
For Microsoft Word 2007:
Click New.
Click More Categories.
Click Paper and Research Paper in MLA Style. Notice that it is provided by Microsoft Corporation. Other MLA templates are available but are not necessarily created by Microsoft.
Any template is not necessarily guaranteed to be free of errors, but I have looked over the MLA template and I have not yet found any errors. This is not an endorsement of Microsoft or its products.
|
Topic |
Page Numbers |
|
Number rule |
97-102 |
|
Quotes |
109-122 |
|
Headings |
133 |
|
Title |
133 |
|
Citations in text |
142 and 237-260 |
|
Reference page look |
145 |
|
Order of references on reference page |
146 |
|
Works Cited |
|
|
Book |
147-173 |
|
et al. rule |
154 and 238 |
|
Chapter in edited book |
158 |
|
Journal-hard copy |
180-193 |
|
Interview |
202 |
|
Web sources |
207-224 |
|
Journal-electronic copy |
221-224 |
In MLA style, cite interviews within the text as the last name of the interviewee only, because there is no page number to mention. If the interviewee's name is mentioned in the text of the paper, then (Interview) can be inserted to avoid repetition.
In the Works Cited list at the end of the paper, write it as
Name of Person Interviewed. Type of interview. (Personal or Telephone) Date.
EXAMPLE:
The Reference/Instruction Department is responsive to the information and instructional needs of the ISU community (Arvin). It provides assistance to patrons (both students and faculty) as they use library materials in pursuit of research and curriculum related information needs.
Arvin explained that information on circulation and reserve services at ISU, including borrowing privileges, checkout periods/renewals, recalls, returning items, fines and charges, reserve checkout/renewal/fines and other circulation services (Interview).
Works Cited
Arvin, Shelley. Personal interview. 30 Sept. 2009.
Follow the style guide – ALWAYS. This is not time to be creative. Don’t agonize about why the guide tells you to do something, just do it!
Be consistent. If the style guide says to use italics for the title of the book or journal (and Chicago does) use italics ALWAYS.
Don’t mix style guides. Chicago and MLA cannot be used simultaneously in a paper. Choose one and stick to it.
If you don’t know how to cite a particular source, look it up. The style guide has thought of nearly every type of source.
Print off the citation of the source you consulted, when you consult it. Don’t say, “I’ll do it later,” or “I am not sure I want to use this source, I’ll go back to it if I do.” Going back later without the citation is often impossible.