Table For Basic MLA In-Text Citations

Table for Basic MLA In-Text Citations

For Print Situation Citation Style

As Rocha asserts, “. . . nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s lecture on the If you refer to the author’s MLA” (75). name in the text Note: no author only page number

If you do not refer to the “Nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s lecture on the MLA” (Rocha 75). author’s name in the text (signal phrase). Note: author and page number

“Nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s lecture on the MLA” (How to

Drive Freshman Nuts 75). Author unknown Note: Either use the complete title in a signal phrase or use a short form of the title in parentheses. Titles of books are underlined; titles of articles are put in quotation marks.

How to Drive Freshman Nuts relates the quickest and most effective means of inducing insanity in

under classmen when it states, “Nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s If author is unknown but you use a signal phrase. lecture on the MLA” (75).

Note: no author, page number only

1 “Nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s lecture on the MLA” (Gerber and

Rocha 75). Two or three authors. Note: both authors as listed on source and page number If you have more than three authors, simply list the first author followed by et al. (Cvejic et al. 75)

Rocha notes how easily an underclassman will resort to destruction simply by “ … a good hour’s

lecture on the MLA” (How to 75). She also follows up this claim of instability in the hilarious I am

Insane and So Can You, noting, “It’s a short walk from the joys of childhood to the anguish of the

teenage years. And I’m willing to lead them on that stroll just a little sooner” (83). In previous Two or more titles by the writing however, Gerber has been less decisive. “Mental patients in the classroom, while a great same author source of amusement and mockery, often divert attention from important activities like television and

pizza parties. Take care when and how you induce psychosis” (Insane Membrane 9).

Note: mention the title of the work in the signal phrase or include a short version of the title in the parentheses. Feel free to mix it up.

For more than one source in 2 The mind-numbing effects of teaching MLA documentation to freshmen have been

well documented. (Rocha 42; Gerber 114; Glotz 73). the parentheses. Note: Use this format to show that several authorities agree on this point. Note that this citation is NOT a direct quote within quotation marks. Also note that the punctuation within the parentheses, not commas but semicolons.

If you add a word or words Sandra Rocha, in an essay on teenage emotional instability, states: “some individuals [who leave] in a quotation, you should put brackets around the make a point of never repeating ninth grade, just to avoid MLA” (78). words to indicate that they are not part of the original Note: Consider what’s within the brackets as paraphrasing. Again, use this form to include the part of the text. quote relevant to your point.

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you In an essay on ninth grade emotional disorders, Sandra Rocha notes that, “some individuals can should indicate the deleted word or words by using muddle through in a relatively lucid manner... and in a short time they’re just as unbalanced as the ellipsis marks, which are three periods (...) preceded rest of the group" (78). and followed by a space. Note: Consider what’s within the brackets as paraphrasing. Again, use this form to include the part of the quote relevant to your point.

Rules for long quotations 3 Sandra Rocha identifies the lowly freshman as the ultimate and easiest victim for madness: - Are for quotations longer You can nearly set your clock by the time it takes to make a freshman crazy once instruction than four full typed lines. - the closing punctuation in the MLA format begins. The ticker is set in motion by even the passing mention of items mark before a long quote is a colon (:). such as the heinous exacting page formatting, the beastly standard heading, the recalcitrant - omit quotation marks - start the quotation on a header. But true mental illness really takes root when, at long last, the word “Works Cited” new line -indented 10 spaces from the rumbles through a crowd of fearful, beleaguered 14-year olds. Now that’s when the fun truly left margin -maintain double-spacing. begins. (614) - the parenthetical citation should come after the Note: Use this form sparingly as long quotes can become tedious and long winded. Again note that the end closing punctuation mark. is before the citation.

For Internet

4 Websites present a special challenge. It is often difficult to determine the type of website you have and what you are to cite. The most important point to remember is that your reader must be able to quickly look up your in-text citation on the Works Cited page.

Rule of thumb: what you use to cite a website depends on what is available to you and follows the following priority: 1. Author (Last name(s) and likely no page number) 2. Article – (Shorten the name to two words, no quotation marks) 3. Website (full name underlined)

Situation Citation Style

Nothing drives a freshman to the ledge faster than a good hour’s lecture on the MLA” (Rocha). If you have the author’s name Note: ALWAYS use the author's last name if given. This is your first priority.

Exposure to the MLA format can cause vomiting, lack of bladder control, memory loss, and in some

extreme cases, an obsession with the Jonas Brothers (MLA Side Effects). You do not have an author but you do have an article Note: No author was listed so we go to the next most specific area, the article. In this case, the name on a website article was called “The Dangerous Side Effects of the MLA Format” and was found on the CNN website. The article name was too long to use so it is shorted to just two to three identifiable words. DO NOT USE THE WEBSITE WHEN THE ARTICLE NAME IS AVAILABLE.

5 Though following a specified guideline can be frustrating, and at times seemingly impossible, the Simple, single topic websites form does ensure consistency and accountability (Learning to Love MLA). with no author and no article name Note: This citation references an entire website devoted to the benefits of the MLA. It does not include a range of articles on different aspects. It is simple and to the point.

Estimates of the number of freshman driven mad by the prolonged exposure to the MLA format vary

because little evidence is has been collected (L. Rocha). That situation, however, is slowly Author’s with the same last name. improving due to the increased use of technology in mental health wards (S. Rocha).

Note: include the author's first initial in the parentheses.

Two or more titles by the same author On December 6, 2000, reporter Sandra Rocha wrote that student Bret Carpenter had become

addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol after completing an hour-long session on in-text

citations. After completing his research paper, Carpenter hit the bottle, took to the road and was

charged with "two counts of vehicular manslaughter . . . in the deaths of John and Carole Hall"

(Couple Painful End). The next day Gerber reported the judge's ruling, noting that Carpenter,

"was convicted of negligent driving and fined $500, the maximum penalty allowed" (Man

Convicted Vehicular).

6 Note: must include authors name in a signal phrase and a portion of the article or website name (depending on what is available – refer to priority list)

7 “In order to determine if eye color could be generally altered, Mengele had dye injected into the eyes

of several twin subjects. This always resulted in painful infections and sometimes even death” More than one article with the same name. (Mengele 1)

Note: This research paper cited several articles simply entitled “Mengele,” none of which included an author. You will need to adjust your Works Cited to match then numbers in your in-text citation .

As critic Bertrand Evans points out: "Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy of unawareness"

(Twayne’s New Critical). If the web page has a long title Note: The title of this website is actually Twayne's New Critical Introductions to Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet. It is way too long so I simply use the first three words of the title and do not underline it because it is not the proper name.

8 Priority List In-text Citations for Internet Sources

1. Author 2. Article 3. Website

For Authors If your source lists an author(s), the last name is the first citation you will use. Situation Citation One author (Rocha) Two authors (Gerber and Rocha) Note: arrange as the source arranged it: sometimes it is not alphabetical Three authors (Cvejic, Gerber and Gen) Four or more authors citing only (Gerber et al.) the first author listed Authors with the same last (L. Brown) (R. Brown) name Note: use first initial Multiple works by the same (Rocha, Freshman Nuts) author (Rocha, Miserable Freshman) Note: Use the author’s name and 2-3 recognizable words from the article name (or website name if you do not have an article). If you include the author’s name to set up your quote, you can eliminate it from the in-text citation A corporate author (Food and Drug Administration) 9 (Department of Motor Vehicles)

For Articles If you do not have the author or authors of a work, go to the next level: the article name.

Situation Citation The article name is “How to Drive Freshman (Freshman Nuts) Nuts.” This is way too long to write in each time. I will -shorten the name to 2-3 words -choose words that will make it easy to match this citation with the Works Cited -Never duplicate the citation for 2 different sources The article name is “Hitler’s Lies” (“Hitler’s Lies”) Note: Use quotation marks when using the EXACT title of the article Titles that have the same name (1. “Nanking 1937”) = source Note: You will have to adjust your Works Cited from History.com so that you number the articles that have the (2. “Nanking 1937”) = source same titles. from War on Reconciliation For example 1. “Nanking 1937.” History.com. 2. “Nanking 1937.” The War on Reconciliation.

For Websites If you do not have the article name, move to the last level: the name of the website. Situation Citation The name of the website is The Holocaust: (Crimes, Heroes,Villians) Crimes, Heroes and Villains

10 This is way too long to write in each time. I will -shorten the name to 2-3 words -choose words that will make it easy to match this citation with the Works Cited

The name of the website is Jewish Virtual (Jewish Virtual Library) Library Note: Underline when using the EXACT title of the website

Other Circumstances Situation Citation When a writer's or a speaker's quoted words appear in a source written by someone else, (qtd. in The History Channel) begin the parenthetical citation with the abbreviation "qtd. in."

If you quote the Declaration of Independence from a website called The History Channel, you will use this format.

NOTE: If an author’s name is mentioned in the text, the in-text citation will change to the next level (article). If the article name is mentioned, the next level of citation is the website.