Formatting the Title Page and Text Title Page
Center on middle of page, one line for each of the following, double spaced: Title of your composition, your first and last name
Lower right of page, one line for each of the following, double spaced: Instructor’s name, class and date
Type
Citing Sources: MLA Style In MLA documentation style, you give credit to your sources by inserting brief parenthetical citations within the text of the paper. The citations appear in more detailed form in an alphabetical list of the works used – called Works Cited – that
12 point font size
Times New Roman, Helvetica or Ariel font
Indentation and Spacing
Indent first sentence of each paragraph
Double space
Quotations of over five lines should be indented; do not use
appears at the end of the paper.
quotation marks
The following examples show the MLA style for citing
Indent lists
print and electronic resources in your Works Cited page, as well as within the text of your paper. An abbreviated guide to MLA styling can be found at the Modern Language Association’s web site (http://www.mla.org). Pay close attention to examples marked with
.
Margins
1˝ left and 1˝ right
1˝ top and bottom
Standard MS World default is acceptable (1.25˝ left and
They are the ones you will be using more often.
right, 1˝ top and bottom)
Body of text is left justified
Book—Two Authors
Print Sources
Format
Book—One Author
First author’s last name, first author’s first name, and second author’s first name last name.
Format Author’s last name, first name. Publication:
Title.
Title.
Place of
Place of Publication:
Publisher,
copyright date.
Publisher, copyright date.
Example – Works Cited Page Breihan, Carl W. Great Gunfighters of the West. New York: New American Lib., 2004.
Example – Works Cited Page Brown, John H., and William S. Speer. Encyclopedia of the New West. Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 2003.
Example – In Text Citation
Example – In Text Citation
“While many people idolize Billy the Kid, viewing him as a bold and courageous
Helena, Montana was one of the most profitable mining areas of the
man, the truth is that William Bonney was not a person to admire. In fact,
nineteenth century (Brown and Speer 37).
Bonney killed twenty-one people, in most cases without any acceptable reason” (Breihan 112-113).
Book—Three or More Authors Format
Two Books—Same Author Example – Works Cited Page Breihan, Carl W. Great Gunfighters of the West. New York: New American Lib., 2002. ------------. Outlaws of the Old West. New York: Scribner’s, 2000. Examples – In Text Citations Dodge City was one of the most notorious settlements of the nineteenth century (Breihan, Great Gunfighters of the West 85). Bank robbery and cattle hustling were the favorite crimes of organized gangs (Breihan, Outlaws of the Old West 4).
First author’s last name, first author’s first name, et al.
Title.
Place of Publication:
Publisher, copyright date. Example – Works Cited Page Sheridan, Marion C., et al. The Pacific Northwest. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Example – In Text Citation On April 3rd, the explorers set out across Puget Sound toward the Olympic Peninsula and immediately ran into a vicious storm (Sheridan, et al. 176).
Book—No Author
Book in a Series (for example: Opposing Viewpoints) Format
Format Title.
Place of Publication:
Publisher, copyright date.
Author’s last name, first name. Title.”
Volume Title.
Series Title.
Example – Works Cited Page
Ed. Editor’s Name.
Place of Publication:
Publisher, copyright date.
Personalities of the West and Midwest. New York: American Biographical
Title.”
Institute, 2000.
“Article or Chapter
Rpt. of “Original
Original Publication Date of Original
Publication.
Example – In Text Citation After the Civil War, the Federal Government made an effort to civilize the West by assigning U.S. marshals to the territories. However, they weren’t very effective since they often had to patrol thousands of square miles by themselves
Example – Works Cited Page Rifkin, Jeremy. “Humans Should Not Be Genetically Redesigned.” Genetic Engineering. Ed. William Dudley. Opposing Viewpoints
(Personalities of the West and Midwest 122).
Series. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of “Genetic Engineering Serves the Body Politic.” Insight 9 Jan. 1995. Example – In Text Citation “We do not have, nor can we acquire, the perspective needed to make
Book—Editor as Author
intelligent decisions relating to the genetic composition of future
Format Editor’s last name, editor’s first name, ed. Place of Publication:
Title.
Publisher, copyright date.
Example – Works Cited Page Steffan, Jerome O., ed. The American West. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004. Example – In Text Citation The Piegans, or Blackfeet, were the most aggressive Indian tribe west of the
generations” (Rifkin 74).
Article in an Anthology or Collection Format Author’s last name, author’s first name. Title.”
Anthology Title.
“Selection
Ed. Editor’s Name.
Place of Publication: Publisher, copyright date.
Mississippi River (Steffan 41). Example – Works Cited Page Gandhi, Mahatma. “Non-Violence is the First Article of My Faith.” The Penguin Book of Twentieth Century Speeches. Ed. Brian MacArthur. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2005.
Magazine Article with an Author
Encyclopedia Article—Signed
Format
Format
Author’s last name, first name.
Author’s last name, first name.
“Article Title.”
Name
Name of Magazine, date of magazine: pages
of Encyclopedia, year ed. Example – Works Cited Page
“Article Title.”
used. Example – Works Cited Page
McDonald, Forrest. “History of the United States.” World Book, 2000 ed.
Lyon, Peter. “The Wild, Wild West.” American Heritage, Aug. 1993: 45-
Example – In Text Citation
46.
The Vietnam War claimed the lives of approximately 58,000 Americans (McDonald, vol. 23: 351).
Example – In Text Citation Some of the people in Tombstone, Arizona, wanted to lynch the Earps and Holliday after Clanton’s friends were killed (Lyon 45).
Encyclopedia Article—Unsigned Format “Article Title.”
Name of Encyclopedia, year ed.
Example – Works Cited Page “Earp, Wyatt.” Collier’s Encyclopedia, 2004 ed. Example – In Text Citation Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holliday killed several of Ike Clanton’s friends in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Although Earp was a Western legend, he eventually moved to Los Angeles and died there in 1929 (“Earp, Wyatt” vol. 24: 298-299).
Magazine Article without an Author Format “Title of Article.”
Name of Magazine, date of
magazine: pages used. Example – Works Cited Page “Drummer.” The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 1999: 45. Example – In Text Citation His bizarre life and unique writing have made Edgar Allen Poe one of the best known writers in the Western world. In fact, more books have been written about Poe than any American writer (“Drummer” 47).
Pamphlets, Government Documents
Interview that you conducted
Format
Format
Name of Agency.
Title of Pamphlet or Document.
of publication:
Place
Publisher, date.
Example – Works Cited Page
Name of person interviewed.
Type of interview
(personal, telephone). date. Example – Works Cited Page
U.S. Department of Justice. The United States Marshals’ Service Then . . . and Now. Washington: GPO, Oct. 2004.
Smithson, Jonathan. Personal interview. 14 Jan. 2005. Example – In Text Citation “Relapse is the thing that every addict fears. For those who do not rely on
Example – In Text Citation Life wasn’t easy for U.S. marshals in the nineteenth century. Pay was low and
a support group to help them through the rough spots, chances of staying
the job was dangerous. To make things worse, most the citizens the marshals
clean are greatly reduced” (Smithson).
were trying to protect were unwilling to cooperate (U.S. Department of Justice 7).
Newspapers Format “Title of Article.”
Name of Newspaper, date: section
page. Example – Works Cited Page “The Threatened Spotted Owl”. The Oregonian, 3 Apr. 2005: B13. Example – In Text Citation The spotted owl controversy began when a group of biologists determined that the spotted owl depended on a habitat of old growth timber for its survival (“The Threatened Spotted Owl” B13).
Sources from Public Access Search Engines
If you cannot find some of the information identified in the general format, cite what is available.
If the URL (web address) is particularly long, you are allowed to shorten it by citing through to the domain (e.g. .com; .org; .edu; .gov).
Web Site Article—One Author Format Author’s last name, first name.
“Article Title.”
Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site. posting.
Vers. Date of Internet
Date of access <electronic address>.
Entire Internet Site Example – Works Cited Page
Format Title of Site.
Ed. Name of Site Editor.
Vers. and/or
Date of publication or latest update.
Sohmer, Steve. “12 June 1599: Opening Day at Shakespeare’s Globe.” Early Modern Literary Studies Vers. 3.1 Jan. 2001. 26 Sept.
Name of
2002 <http://www.shu.ac.uk>.
institution/organization affiliated with the site, location of sponsoring institution.
Date of
Example 1 – In Text Citation “The debut of Julius Caesar,” according to Sohmer, “proclaimed
access <electronic address>.
Shakespeare’s Globe a theater of courage and ideas, a place where an Example – Works Cited Page
audience must observe with the inner eye, listen with the inner ear” (par.
Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet. Ed. Robert Godwin. Vers. 1.1
44).
Jun. 2001. Library of Congress, Washington. 18 May 2002 <http://thomas.loc.gov>.
Example 2 – In Text Citation Called the first politically motivated playwright, Shakespeare was caught in the ferment of ideas that came out of the Elizabethan Renaissance
Entire Internet Site—Personal
(Shomer, screens 2-3).
Format Author’s last name, author’s first name. Date of creation or latest update. <electronic address>. Example – Works Cited Page Friggieri, Vince. Home page. 12 Aug. 2004. 13 Feb. 2005 <http://friggieri.com>.
Home page. Date of access
Web site—No Author, No Title
Example – Works Cited Page
Check web site at beginning and end of page for author and title information. Use this format if none can be identified.
Cook, William J. “Molding Minds or Moldy Minds?” U.S. News & World Report 25 Mar. 1999: 108-112+. Electric Library. 25 Apr. 2005 <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.
Format
Example – In Text Citation
<electronic address>.
If it’s done right, education ought to make students uncomfortable once in a while (Cook, par. 19).
Example – Works Cited Page <ftp://ftp.ncifcrf.gov/pub/IPS-WWW/arid95d.del>. Example – In Text Citation A 1990 survey found that eleven percent of teens had an eating disorder. This would translate into approximately 716,000 young people nationwide
Scholarly Journal
(ftp://ftp.ncifcrf.gov, par. 3).
Format Author’s last name, first name.
Sources from Online Subscription Databases
“Article Title.”
Name of Journal Volume Issue (Year):
(for example: any the ELM databases or the Britannica Online Encyclopedias)
Pages/Paragraphs.
Name of Database.
Subscription Service.
Name of
Date accessed
<electronic address>.
Magazine or Newspaper Example – Works Cited Page
Format Author’s last name, first name.
“Article Title.”
of Magazine Date of Magazine: Subscription Service. address>.
Pages.
Name
Name of
Date accessed <electronic
Youakim, Sami. “Work-Related Asthma.” American Family Physician 64 (2001): 1839-52. Health Source Plus. EBSCO. 12 Jan. 2005 <http://search.epnet.com> Example – In Text Citation See Magazine or Newspaper.
Opposing Viewpoints Subscription Database—No Author
Format Author’s last name, first name. Volume Title. date.
Ed. Name.
“Article Title.”
Format
Publisher, copyright
Rpt. “Article Title.”
“Article Title.”
Original
(Year):
Name of Journal Volume Issue
Pages/Paragraphs.
Name of Database.
Publication.
Original Date of Publication.
Name
Name of Subscription Service.
of Database.
Name of Subscription Service.
Date
<electronic address>.
Date accessed
accessed <electronic address>. Example – Works Cited Page “Environmental Control and Asthma.” Clinical Reference System 2001:
Example – Works Cited Page Post, Stephen G. “Commerce in Organs is Unethical.” Medical Ethics. Ed.
731. Health & Wellness Reference Center. Gale Group
James D. Torr, Current Controversies Series. Greenhaven Press, 2000. Rpt. of “Organ Volunteers Serve Body Politic.” Insight 9 Jan. 1995.
Databases. 28 Oct. 2004 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com>. Example – In Text Citation
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale Group Databases. 6 Feb.
A growing body of scientific evidence is making a strong case supporting
2005 < http://galenet.galegroup.com>.
the link between environmental pollution and asthma (“Environmental Control and Asthma,” par. 3).
Example – In Text Citation See Magazine or Newspaper.
Other Common Sources Online Encyclopedia
Format
Format
“Article Title.”
Name of Online Encyclopedia.
Publication, year of publication.
Web.
Original
Date accessed.
Example – Works Cited Page "Einstein, Albert." Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1999. Web. 27 Apr. 2009.
Author (sender).
“Title of message (if any).”
mail to [name of recipient].
E-
Date of E-mail.
Example – Works Cited Page Moore, Kevin. “RE: Don’t Despair.” E-mail to Jessica Logan. 18 Nov. 2004.
Paintings and Photographs
CD-ROM, Entire
Artist/photographer’s last name, first name. available]. given].
Title [if
Date of original production [if
Format Name of Publication.
Name of sponsoring institution, place.
CD-ROM.
Place of Publication:
Publisher, copyright date.
Date of access <electronic address>. Example – Works Cited Page Example – Works Cited Page
Encyclopedia of Islam. CD-ROM. New York: Voyager, 2005.
Rivera, Diego. Agrarian Leader Zapata. 1931. Museum of Modern Art, New York. 11 Feb. 2004 <http://momastore.org>.
Example – In Text Citation “Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam is a monotheistic religion based on the belief in one God. Muslims use the Arabic word for God, Allah, to refer to the creator of the world and life within it” (Encyclopedia of Islam).
Tables, Charts and Graphs “Title of Graph or Chart.” Title.”
Descriptive label.
“Article
Original source title Publication date.
Database Name. applicable].
Name of subscription service [if Date accessed <electronic address>.
CD-ROM, Article Format “Title of Article.” CD-ROM.
Example – Works Cited Page
Name of Publication.
Place of Publication:
Edition.
Publisher,
date.
“Crime in Texas.” Table. “Juvenile Crime Dips in Texas.” The Dallas Morning News 20 Jun. 1999. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 7 May 2004 <http://infoweb.newsbank.com>.
Example – Works Cited Page “Children’s Television Workshop.” Encyclopedia of Television. 2nd ed. CDROM. New York: Gibaldi Associates, 2003. Example – In Text Citation Sesame Street was the first televised series to achieve significant notoriety in the field of children’s programming (“Children’s Television Workshop”).
Example – Works Cited Page
Radio or TV Program
It’s a Wonderful Life. Dir. Frank Capra. Perf. James Stewart, Donna Reed,
Format “Title of the episode or segment.” of the network.
Program Title.
Lionel Barrymore, and Thomas Mitchell. Republic, 1946. DVD.
Name
TV/Radio Station Call Letters,
City location of the station.
Broadcast date.
Online Book (eBook) Example – Works Cited Page “Death and Society.” Weekend Edition Sunday. Natl. Public Radio. WUWM, Milwaukee. 25 Jan. 2005.
Cite online books as you would cite a printed book, using any original publication information that is available, and then add the date of access and electronic address. You may add in brackets [ ] other relevant information. Format
Example – In Text Citation Studies showed that young people had become desensitized to images of death
Author’s last name, first name. publication date].
portrayed in the media (“Death and Society”).
Title.
[Orginal
Electronic source.
Date
of access <electronic address>. Example – Works Cited Page
Sound Recording—CD, LP, Audiocassette
Dumas, Alexandre. The Three Muskateers. [1844]. Netlibrary. 3 Mar.
Format
2004 <http://netlibrary.com>.
“Segment Title.”
Album Name.
Format.
Producer,
copyright date. Example – Works Cited Page “Love Poetry, II.” What’s the Word? CD. Modern Language Association, 2001.
Online Government Publication To cite an online government publication, begin with the same facts given for printed sources and conclude with date of access and electronic address. Format Author’s last name, first name.
Videocassette or DVD Begin citation with underlined title and include any of the following information: the director, the distributor, the year of release, and format. You may include other information that seems pertinent, such as the names of the writer, performers, and producer between the title and the distributor.
Department and / or Office.
Country of Origin.
Date of Internet Posting.
Document Title. Date of Access
<electronic address>. Example – Works Cited Page
Format Title. Dir. Name of Director. Perf. Name(s). Distributor, year of release. Format.
Snyder, Howard N. United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention. Law Enforcement and Juvenile Crime. Dec. 2004. 29 Feb. 2005 < http://www.usdoj.gov>.
Formatting the Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page (Example)
Your Works Cited list should begin on a separate page from the text of your paper, with the words Works Cited centered at the top (do not enclose in quotation marks or underline).
“Abe Lincoln in Illinois.” CD-ROM. Hackensack, NJ: Salem, 2000. Berger, Gilda. Violence and the Media. New York: Watts, 2003. Burgess, D. and Ann Strissguth. “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal
Double space
First line of each entry should be flush left. All subsequent lines should be indented five spaces (use hanging indent feature on word processor)
Alphabetize entries by author’s last name, or by the first significant word in the entry if there is no author
Author’s names are inverted (last name first)
If citing more than one work from the same author, alphabetize by author and then by title. Use a dashed line in place of author’s name for the second entry. For
Alcohol Effects.” Phi Delta Kappan 24. (2001): 45-61. Day, Martha. “Review of film --- Alien.” E-mail to Xu Liang. 30 July 2004. Drugs and You. Videocassette. AIMS Media, 1999. “Fresco.” Britannica Online. Vers. 97.1.1. Mar. 2003. Encyclopedia
example:
Britannica. 29 Mar. 2004 <http://www.eb.com>. Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. New York: Harmony Books, 1989. -------. Life, the Universe, and Everything. New York: Ballantine, 1995.
Frick, Robert. "Investing in Medical Miracles." Kiplinger's Personal Finance Feb. 2005: 80-87. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Andover High School Media Center, Andover, MN. 10 Feb.
Capitalize each word in the titles of articles, books, etc. This rule does not apply to a word such as a, an, the, and, but, of, to, for, at, and so forth unless it is the first word of the title or subtitle.
Underline all titles of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and films. Use quotation marks around the titles of articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers. Also use quotation marks for the titles of short stories, book chapters, poems, and songs.
2005 < http://search.epnet.com>. Kulikowski, Vince. Homepage. 3 Jan. 2004 <http://www.vincekulikowski.net>.