Using MLA Format

(Modern Language
Association)

Modified from the

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Using a Consistent Format
Using a consistent
format helps your
reader understand
your arguments and
the sources they’re
built on.
It also helps you keep
track of your
sources as you build
arguments.

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Establishing Credibility
The proper use of
MLA style shows the
credibility of writers;
such writers show
accountability to
their source
material.

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Avoiding Plagiarism

Proper citation of your

sources in MLA style
can help you avoid
plagiarism, which is a
serious offense.

Plagiarism – using someone

else’s work as your own.

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Where Do I Find MLA
Format?
 MLA Handbook for Writers
of Research Papers, 7th ed.
 MLA Elementary Citation
Maker (based on 7th
edition) from Oregon School
Library Information System

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 MLA Style: Two Parts

Works Cited
Page
Parenthetical
Citations (not
doing this part)

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 Works Cited Page

 A complete list of every

source that you used as an
answer
 Provides the information
necessary for a reader to
locate and retrieve any
sources.

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 Works Cited

Most citations should

contain the following
basic information:
 Author’s name
 Title of work
 Publication
information

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 Works Cited: Book

 Book

Byatt, A. S. Babel Tower. New York: Random

House, 1996.

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 Works Cited: Web
 Web page

Poland, Dave. “The Hot Button.”

Roughcut. 26 Oct. 1998. Turner
Network Television. 28 Oct. 2009
<www.roughcut.com>.

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Nebbie Works Cited Worksheet

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As SOON as you find an answer

 Start
filing in ALL parts of the
Works Cited Worksheet

Don’t answer a question on the outline

and forget this IMPORTANT step

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 It’s like a scavenger hunt!
 Find Title and Author

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 Continue the Hunt
 City
 PublishingCompany
 Copyright Date
 And page #’s you found your answers

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Look Hard

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Write it on your Works Cited
Worksheet

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 A Sample Completed
Works Cited Page
Smith 12
Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York: Penguin,

1985.

---. David Copperfield. 1849-1850. New York: Houghton Mifflin

Company, 1958.

Miller, J. Hillis. Charles Dickens: The World and His Novels.

Bloomington: U of Indiana P, 1958.

Zwerdling, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 88 (May

1973): 429-439.
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 Creating the Works Cited Page

 Take your Works Cited Worksheet to a

computer
 Login to the website at the top of the
worksheet
 http://elementary.oslis.org/resources/cm/mlac

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This is what will come up

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Click on the type of source

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This is for a book with one author

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Type in your info. from the
“Works Cited Worksheet”

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Click on Create Citation Below
and the computer will format
everything for you 

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Repeat for every source

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Here is a web page

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 To create your
Works Cited page
 Beforeyou exit Citation Maker, be sure
to "Copy All" to print or copy and paste
to a word processing document.

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Sort ALL

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Copy All

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 Here is what it looks like
 Just
copy and paste into your word
document

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You Are Finished!

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