In writing your research paper, you must document everything that you borrow–not only direct quotations and paraphrases, but also information and ideas. The list of works cited at the end of your research paper plays an important role in your acknowledgment of sources, but it does not in itself provide sufficiently detailed and precise documentation. You must indicate exactly what you have derived from each source and exactly where in that work you found the material.

• References in the text must clearly point to specific sources in the list of works cited.
• Identify the location of the borrowed information as specifically as possible.

From the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

1. A citation in MLA style contains only enough information to enable readers to find the source on the Works Cited page where the source is listed in more detail.

2. Insert the appropriate information in parentheses after the words or ideas borrowed from another source. Place the parentheses where a pause would naturally occur to avoid disrupting the flow of the writing–usually at the end of a sentence.

3. Use the first word of the Works Cited entry followed by the page(s) in the source on which the borrowed information occurs.

• Most of the time this is the author's last name.
• If there is no author, use the first word of the title (other than a, an, or the).

4. If you refer to the author or to the title of the source (if there is no author) in the text of the paper, you need only cite the page numbers of the borrowed information. See example on next page.

5. Once a source is cited, if it is cited again without another different source coming between, you need only indicate the page number of the source on the second citation. See example on next page.

6. If you are unsure how to document a source, consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or one of the Writers INC handbooks.

I. CITATIONS FOR SOURCES WITH AN AUTHOR

A. Author's Name in Reference

Global warming is increasing rapidly (Salmon 48-49).

B. Author's Name Used in Text

Salmon has argues this point about the greenhouse effect successfully (48-49).

C. Quotation (greater than four typed lines long) with Author

(Quotation is double spaced and indented one inch from left margin. One space follows the period before the page citation.)

Burkhard Bilger offers this comment on the atmosphere:

This carbon cycle ties together the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the

geosphere. The atmosphere contain only about two-fifths as much carbon as

does the biophere and about one-fiftieth as much s the oceans, but enough

carbon passes through the atmosphere to make CO₂ the second most

important greenhouse gas after water vapor. (34)

II. CITATIONS FOR SOURCES LISTED BY TITLE (NO AUTHOR)

A. Title in Reference

Greenhouse gases surround the earth to keep it warm ("Forests").

(Notice there is no page listed here because this is an Internet site.)

B. Title in Text

According to the Global Change: Reducing Uncertainties, these statistics are faulty and overblown (5-6).

III. CITATION FROM SAME SOURCE

A. Without an Intervening Source

(First citation)

The misconceptions about global warming will continue (Pearce 35).

(Text continues referring to previous work by Pearce.)

Yet this problem will continue to concern us as we enter the 21st Century (40).

B. With an Intervening Source

Refer to I. or II. above

*The above examples of Parenthetical Documentation refer to the sample Works Cited of this handbook.

In MLA documentation style, you acknowledge your sources by keying brief parenthetical citations in your text to an alphabetical list of works that appears at the end of the paper.

From the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

1. The Works Cited Is started on a new page after your last page of the body of the report. Number each page, continuing with the page numbers of the text. The page number appears in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

2. Center the title, Works Cited, one inch fro the top of the page. Use no underline or quotes in the title.

3. Double space the entire Works Cited, both between and within entries.

4. Begin each entry flush with the left margin. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line or lines one-half inch from the left margin.

5. In general, alphabetize entries in the list of works cited by the author's last name.

• If the author's name in unknown, alphabetize the title, ignoring A, An or The.
• If the same author has two entries, substitute three hyphens for the author's name on the second and subsequent entries.

6. The entries are NOT numbered.

7. Periods are used to separate major items in each entry–such as the author section, the title section, the publication section.

8. Titles of books, encyclopedias, magazines, pamphlets, newspapers, and plays are underlined. Do not underline the period following the title.

9. Titles of articles, programs, short stories, essays, and poems are in quotation marks. The second quotation mark goes after the period.

10. Page numbers are given for articles but not for books or pamphlets. Do NOT use "page" or "p" with the numbers; use only the numbers.

11. Most publication information for a book is found on the title page or the page following the title page. If more than one city of publication is listed, use the first American city. If the city is a well-known one (like New York or Chicago), do NOT include the state.

12. If you are unsure how to document a source, consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or one of the Writers INC handbooks.

Anthes, Richard A. "Greenhouse Effect." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 1997 ed.

CD-ROM. Danbury. CT: Grolier Interactive Inc., 1997.

Bilger, Burkhard. Global Warming. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1992.

"Forests Today: The Greenhouse Effect." 7 June 1996. Online Text. National Association of

Forest Industries. Internet. 30 Sept. 1997.Available.

<http://www.nafi.com.au/faq/greenhouse.html>.

Gille, John C. "Greenhouse Effect." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1994 ed.

Global Change: Reducing Uncertainties. New York: International Geosphere-Biosphere

Program, 1992.

Global Warming. Dir. Rhonda Fabian & Jerry Baber. The Earth at Risk Environmental Video

Series. Videocassette. Schlessinger Video Productions, 1993.

Hotz, Robert Lee. "Blowing Hot Air or Not?" Los Angeles Times 16 May 1996: B2. SIRS

Researcher. CD-ROM. SIRS. Fall 1997.

Koch, George. "Global Warming--If Only It Were True." Alberta Report 15 Apr. 1996: 35

Online. Electric Library. 30 Sept. 1997.

Salmon, Jeffrey. "Greenhouse Anxiety." Commentary July 1993. Rpt. in Global Warming:

Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997. 23-30.

Pearce, Fred. "Global Warming Chills Out Over Pacific." New Scientist 22 Feb. 1997: 16.

---. "The Discovery of the Risk of Global Warming." Physics Today Jan. 1997: 34-41.

Wold, Marcia. "Scientists Warn of Global Warming from Fossil Fuels." Columbian

[Vancouver} 25 Oct. 1996: B5.

1. Book - One Author

Works Cited:
Angell, David. The Internet Business Companion: Growing Your Business in the

Electronic Age. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1995.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Angel 94).

WC: Text for title, magazines, journals, or newspapers may be underlined or italicized depending on your word processing capabilities.

2. Book - Two or Three Authors or Editors

Works Cited:
Nadell, Judith., Linda McMeniman and John Langan. The Macmillan Writer. New

York: Macmillan, 1991.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Nadell, NcMeniman and Langan 26).

WC: Only the name of the first author is reversed for alphabetizing. Names of additional authors and editors follow the normal order.

3. Book - More Than Three Authors or Editors

Works Cited:
Abrams, M. H., et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 3rd ed. 2

vols. New York: Norton, 1974.

Parenthetical Documentation
(Abrams et al. 1:29).

WC: Name only the first author and add "et al." ("and others"), which is not italicized or underlined as Latin abbreviation here. Commas are needed around "et al." only when it is
followed by a specification such as eds. (editors) or trans. (translators).

PD: Since this is a work in two volumes, the documentation must indicate which volume; therefore, the volume number is followed by a colon and the page number or numbers.

Works Cited:
Laurence, Peter J. The Peter Pyramid. New York: William Morrow, 1986.

---. Why Things Go Wrong. New York: William Morrow, 1985.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Laurence, The Peter Pyramid 49).

(Laurence, Why Things 79).

WC: List the books alphabetically according to title. After the first entry, substitute three hyphens for the author's name.

PD: For more than one work by the same author(s), put a comma after the author's last name(s) and the title of the work, if short, or a shortened version, and the page number.

5. Book - With an Editor, Not an Author

Works Cited:
Untermeyer, Louise, ed. Modern American Poetry. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World,

1958.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Utermeyer 56)

6. Book - Authored by a Group

Works Cited:
Reader's Digest. Fix-It-Yourself Manual. Pleasantville, New York: Reader's Digest, 1977.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Reader's Digest 54).

PD: It may make for a clearer note to cite the name of the author or work in the sentence and put only the page numbers between parentheses. For example: the Reader's Digest Fix-It-Yourself Manual explains the basic tools you need for furniture repair (54- 55).

7. Book - No Author or Anonymous

Works Cited:
Illustrated World Atlas. Chicago: Rand, 1985.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Illustrated World Atlas 88-89).

8. Book - Reference Book Article

Works Cited:
"Technical Education." Encyclopedia Americana. 1992 ed.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("Technical Education").

Works Cited:
Lum, P. Adrea. "Computerized Tomography." World Book. 1994 ed.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Lum).

PD: No page number is given when a work is arranged alphabetically.

9. Book - A Corporate Group Author

Works Cited:
United States. Dept. of Labor. Bureau of Statistics. Occupational Outlook handbook.

Washington: GPO, 1994.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(167).

PD: If a book or other work was written by a committee or task force, it is said to have a corporate author. If the name is long, include it in the text instead of the parentheses.

10. Book - Multivolume Work

Works Cited:
Ziegler, Alan. The Writing Workshop. Vol. 2. New York: Teachers and Writers,

1984.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Ziegler 51).

WC: If you cite two or more volumes in a multivolume work, give the total number of volumes after the title.

PD: If you cite two or more volumes in a multivolume work, give the volume number followed by a colon (Ziegler 2:51).

11. Anthology - Citing a Single Work

Works Cited:
Green, Mark. "The Pro-Pac Backlash: When money Talks, Is it Democracy?" Point of

view. Ed. Robert E. Diclerico and Allan S. Hammock. 3d ed. New York:

Random House, 1986. 154.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Green 154).

12. Anthology - Citing a Complete Anthology

Works Cited:
Diclerico, Robert E., and Allan S. Hammock, eds. Point of View. 3rd ed. New York:

Random House, 1986.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Diclerico and Hamock 142).

PD: When citing a complete anthology, begin the entry with the editors.

13. Anthologies and Collections - Previously Published Articles

Works Cited:
(Example from SIRS notebook)
Longman, Jere. "From Soweto, It's a Hard Run to Glory." Philadelphia Inquirer. 14 June

            1992, A1+. Rpt. in Sports, Vol. 4. Boca Raton: Social Issues Resources Series,

            1993. Art. 34.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Longman 2)

WC: Author. "Title of article as it appeared in original source." Title of Original Source Date of Original Publication, Section and Page number(s) in Original Publication, if given. The words Rpt. in followed by the titleof the work in which the reprint appears and a volume number if a SIRS item). Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. Article number for SIRS items or page number(s) for non-SIRS items.

Works Cited:
(Example from Opposing Viewpoints Series)
Kammer, Fred. "Charitable Aid Cannot Replace Government Welfare." Insight 3-10 Apr.

1995. Rpt. in Welfare: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,

1997. 65-71.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Kammer 67)

WC: The title of the article as it appeared in original source is usually at the bottom of the first page of the Opposing Viewpoints article.

14. Pamphlet or Bulletin - Signed

Works Cited:
Finding Film Reviews. UGL Study Guide. Austin: The General Libraries, 1984.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Finding Film 4).

WC: Treat pamphlets like books: underline titles and provide publishing information.

15. Pamphlet or Bulletin - No Author or Publication Information Stated

Works Cited:
Pedestrian Safety. [United States]: n.p., n.d.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Pedestrian 2).

WC: If known, list the country or publication in brackets. Use N.p. (no place) if the country is
unknown, n.p. (no publisher) if the publisher is unknown, and n.d. if the date is unknown.

16. Government Publications

Works Cited:
United States. Federal Trade Commission. Shopping by Mail or Phone. Washington:

GPO, 1994.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(United States. Federal Trade Commission 12-15).

WC: If it is a congressional document, identify the Congress and the session (99th Cong., 2nd session) after the title of the document.

17. Magazine - Signed Article

Works Cited:
Miller, Annetta. "We'll Adjust Our Schedules." Newsweek 28 Nov. 1994: 46+.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Miller 46).

WC: The + following the page number indicates that the article continues beyond p. 46, but not necessarily on consecutive pages. If the pages were consecutive it would be 46-48. The sample above is a weekly magazine. A monthly magazine would not list a day before the month.

18. Magazine - Unsigned Article

Works Cited:
"Engineered Plants Resist Herbicide." High Technology Jan. 1986: 9.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("Engineered Plants" 9).

19. Scholarly Journal

Works Cited:
Chu, Wujin. "Costs and Benefits of Hard-Sell." Journal of Marketing Research 32.2

(1995): 97-102.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Chu 99).

WC: Number 32 refers to the volume. The 2 refers to the issue number. The issue number is not needed if the page numbers in a volume continue from one issue to the next.

20. Newspaper - Signed Article

Works Cited:
Muto, Sheila. "Student Uniforms Pay Off, One School District Says." The New York

Times 20 Jan. 1995, sec. B: 1+.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Muto B4).

WC: The + following the page number indicates that the article continues beyond the first page, but not necessarily on consecutive pages.

21. Newspaper - Unsigned Article

Works Cited:
"African Roots of American Music Traced at Westchester College Program."

Amsterdam News [New York] 29 Jan. 1994, sec. 1:21.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("African Roots" 21).

WC: If the unsigned article is an editorial, put "Editorial" after the title. Also, if the city of publication is included in the newspaper's name, you do not have to add it in brackets.

22. Newspaper - Letter to Editor

Works Cited:
"Epsy, Mike. Letter. "Abolishing the Farmer's Home Administration." Washington

Post 5 Mar. 1994, 5A.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Epsy 5).

23. Newspaper - Editorial - No Author Given

Works Cited:
"How to Honor Dr. King--and When." Editorial. New York Times 15 Jan. 1986, nat.

ed.: 23.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("How to Honor" 23).

24. Television and Radio Programs

Works Cited:
"The Ultimate Road Trip: Traveling in Cyberspace." 48 Hours. CBS WBBM,

Chicago. 13 Apr. 1995.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("The Ultimate Road Trip").

WC: If your reference is primarily to the work of an individual, cite that person before the title. Otherwise, you may give other pertinent information (writer, director, producer, narrator, etc.) after the main title of the program (underlined).

25. Films

Works Cited:
Trading Places. Dir. John Landis. Perf. Dan Akroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy,

and Jamie Lee Curtis. Paramount, 1983.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Trading Places).

WC: If it is important, cite the size and length of the film (for example: 16 mm, 32 min.) after the date.

26. Filmstrips, Slide Programs, Videocassettes, and Videodiscs

Works Cited:
How to Leave Your Job and Buy a Business of Your Own. Video-cassette. Self-

Reliance Press, Inc. 1990. 55 min.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(How to Leave).

WC: Cite the medium (filmstrip, slide program, etc.) after the title.

27. Interview Conducted by Researcher

Works Cited:
Harrison, Benjamin. Personal interview. 21 Apr. 1998.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Harrison).

WC: Person interviewed (Last name, first). Kind of interview. Date of interview.

28.Titled Interview that was Published or Broadcast

Works Cited:
Fellini, Frederico. "The Long Interview." Juliet of the Spirits. Ed. Tullio Kezich. Trans.

Howard Greenfield. New York: Ballantine, 1966. 17-24.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Fellini 18-19)

WC: Person interviewed. "Title of Interview." Name of Program or Publication. Place of Publication: Name of Publisher, Date. Page(s).

29.Untitled Interview that was Published or Broadcast

Works Cited:
Gordimer, Madine. Interview. New York Times 10 Oct. 1991, late ed.: C25

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Gordimer C25)

30. Letter Received by the Author (yourself)

Works Cited:
Smith, Marion. Letter to the author. 15 Sept. 1998.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Smith).

31. Maps and Charts

Works Cited:
Wisconsin Territory. Map. Madison: Wisconsin Trails, 1988.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Wisconsin Territory).

32. Lectures, Speeches, and Addresses

Works Cited:
McElroy, Martha, Address. Opening General Sess. WVA Conference. Four Seasons

Olympic Hotel, Seattle. 15 Apr. 1988.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(McElroy).

WC: If known, give the speech's title in quotation marks instead of the label "Address, Lecture, or Speech."

Note: With web site entries, when certain items do not apply or are not available, skip those and go on to the next item

33. Internet - Web Site (Professional)

Works Cited:
ESPN.com. 12 Nov. 1999. ESPN Internet Ventures. 24 Nov. 1999 <http://espn.go.com>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(ESPN)

34. Internet — Article Within a Web Site

Works Cited:
Devitt, Terry. "Flying High." The Why Files. 9 Dec. 1999. University of Wisconsin, Board of

           Regents. 4 Jan. 2000 <http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/shorties/kite.html>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Devitt)

35. Internet — Article Within a Web Site (Anonymous)

Works Cited:
"Becoming a Meteorologist." Weather.com. 12 Nov. 1999. The Weather Channel. 24 Nov.

1999 <http://weather.com/learn_more/resources/metro.html>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
("Becoming a Meteorologist")

36. Internet — Web Site (Personal)

Works Cited:
Hamilton, Calvin J. Views of the Solar System. 12 Nov. 1999

<http://solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Hamilton)

37. Internet — On-Line Government Document

Works Cited:
United States. U.S. Census Bureau Poverty in the United States: 1998. Sept. 1999. 12 Nov.

1999 <http://www.census.gov/prod/99pubs/p60-207.pdf>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(U.S. Census Bureau)

38. Internet - Article from On-Line Computer Service (Also in Print)

Works Cited:
Williams, Vanessa. "D.C. Votes to Limit Teenage Drivers: Council Sets 18 as Minimum Age

            for Full License." Washington Post 3 Nov. 1999, final ed.: A1 National Newspapers .

            ProQuest. Cascade High School Library. 12 Nov. 1999

            <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb>.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Williams)

WC: When you use a library to access a subscription service, add the name of the database if known (underlined), the service, and the library. (Add them before the date of access.) Then give the Internet address for the home page of the service, if you know it.

39. Internet - Article from On-Line Computer Service
(Volume Number Included)

Works Cited:
"Senate Approves New Alternative Fuel." National Petroleum News 90.9 (Sept. 1998): 36

            (1/6p.). MasterFILE Premier. EBSCOhost. Lynchburg Public Library. 12 Nov. 1999

            <http://www.ebscohost.com>.

40. Message - Electronic Mail (E-mail) Messages

Works Cited:
Smith, John. "Re: Help with World History Project." E-mail to Robert Johnson.

16 Sept. 1997.

Parenthetical Documentation:
(Smith)

WC: Author of message. "Subject line of posting." E-mail to the name of the person receiving message. Date message was posted. You may also say Personal E-mail in place of person's name receiving the E-mail.

The following less common references have been omitted and can be found in the

• Writers Inc handbook or on-line at <thewritesource.com>.
• An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or an Afterward
• Cross-Reference
• An Edition
• A Translation
• A Book in a Series
• A Title or Quotation Within an Article's Title
• A Publisher's Imprint
• An Article Reprinted in a Loose-Leaf
• A Book with a Title within a Title Collection
• A Review
• A Publication on Diskette
• Published Interview
• Recordings
• Audiocassette
• Published Letters
• Cartoons

PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION

Guidelines

Examples

WORKS CITED

Guidelines

Examples

Sample Works Cited Entries with Parenthetical Documentation

BOOKS

1. One Author

2. Two or Three Authors or Editors

3. More Than Three Authors or Editors

4. Two or More by the Same Author

5. With an Editor, Not an Author

6. Authored by a Group

7. No Author or Anonymous

8. Reference Book Article

9. Corporate Group Author

10. Multivolume Work

ANTHOLOGIES

11. Citing a Single Work

12. Citing a Complete Anthology

13. Anthologies and Collections - Previously Published Articles

PAMPHLETS

14. Signed

15. No Author or Publication Information Stated

16. Government Publications

PERIODICALS

17. Magazine - Signed Article

18. Magazine - Unsigned Article

19. Journal - Scholarly Journal

20. Newspaper - Signed Article

21. Newspaper - Unsigned Article

22. Newspaper - Letter to Editor

23. Newspaper - Editorial - No Author Given

ELECTRONIC MASS MEDIA

24. Television and Radio Programs

25. Films

26. Filmstrips, Slide Programs, Videocassettes, and Videodiscs

INTERVIEWS

27. Interview Conducted by Researcher

28. Titled Interview that was Published or Broadcast

29. Untitled Interview that was Published or Broadcast

OTHER

30. Letter Received by the Author (yourself)

31. Maps and Charts

32. Lectures, Speeches, and Addresses

COMPUTER

33. Internet — Web Site (Professional)

34. Internet — Article Within a Web Site

35. Internet — Article Within a Web Site (Anonymous)

36. Internet — Web Site (Personal)

37. Internet — On-Line Government Document

38. Internet — Article from On-Line Computer Service (Also in Print)

39. Internet — Article from On-Line Computer Service (Volume Number Included)

40. Message — Electronic Mail (E-mail) Messages

LESS COMMON REFERENCES

Information has been taken from four sources that use MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers as their source:

Camas High School Librarian, Source Documentation Presentation. Washington Library Media Association's Conference. Yakima. 10 Oct. 1998.

Garrett, Jean. "MLA Works Cited Page and Parenthetical Documentation Directory." (21 Feb. 1998): 8 pp. Online Text. Internet. 5 Aug. 1998. Available URL: http://www.mtsac.edu/~jgarrett/mlaweb.html.

Sebranek, Patrick, et al. Writers INC: School To Work. Lexington: D. C. Heath, 1996.

Sebranek, Kemper, et. Al. Writers INC: A Student Handbook for WRITING and LEARNING: Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Less common references have been omitted can can be found in the Writers INC handbook. Refer to the last page of this handout for a list.

Draft 2 includes the latest Internet Sources as revised in the 2001 edition of Writers INC.

Compiled by Susan Olsen with earlier contributions and editing help from Karen Shoaf-Mitchell.