MLA Documentation

Important MLA citing information

™ Enclosing borrowed language in “…” pg. 399
™ Putting summaries/paraphrases in your words pg. 400-405)
™ Integrating sources (starts on pg. 403)
– Ellipsis marks and brackets (pg. 407)
– Long quotes (pg. 408)
– Signal phrases (pg. 408-410)
– Avoiding dropped quotes (pg. 410)
– Introducing summaries and paraphrases (pg. 411)
– Putting source material in context and synthesizing (pg. 413-416)
– Integrating stats and facts (pg. 411)
™ Documenting Sources (pg. 418+)
™ KNOW the difference between an in-text citation and the list of citations in
the Works Cited.

YOU MUST…
™ Use Rules for Writers (8th edition) to help document sources in your paper.
™ Or, you can also use Owl Purdue, an online writing lab. Here’s the link:
™ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_f
ormatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
™ Follow all models/examples of an in-text citation and an entry in the Works
Cited page.
™ Refer to the following page to look up in-text citations: page 419 (so many
models)
™ Refer to the following page to look up listing sources in the Works Cited:
pages 419-420 (SO many models!)

Citing from A World of Ideas (Your PDFs)

™ Examples: direct quote or paraphrase/summary
™ According to Bhutto, she argues that… (180). This is a paraphrase or
summary (no quotes, but you still cite the information borrowed that
you’re putting into your own words)
™ Former Prime Minister Bhutto explains, “…” (180). This is a direct quote
(quotations marks used because it’s word for word.
 ™ If you do not introduce the author’s name in the signal phrase, then at the
end of the sentence, it should look like this– (Jefferson 245). But if you
choose this route, then make sure it’s not a dropped quote.
™ Author’s name must be in the citation—if you choose to incorporate the
title of the piece only in the signal phrase, then make sure the author’s
name is in the parenthetical reference in the selection. For example: In
“The Declaration of Independence” the document emphasizes, “…”
(Jefferson 267).
™ If you borrow anything from the introductions to any of the chapters in WI
or any of the intros about each individual selection, you must cite the
editor’s name: Jacobus and then the page number, for example: (Jacobus
170).

**For the Works Cited entry for a selection from your textbook, A
World of Ideas (your PDFs), see page 448 in Rules for Writers, model
#29. In other words, since you have to cite from one of the readings
(whichever prompt you are choosing to write about), follow this model
so your works cited entry is accurate. Remember: Thomas Jefferson
wrote “The Declaration of Independence,” not Lee A. Jacobus.

EXAMPLE:

Jefferson, Thomas. “The Declaration of Independence.” A World of

Ideas. edited by Lee A. Jacobus. 10th ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s,

2017, pp. 116-121.

Cady Stanton, Elizabeth. “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.”

A World of Ideas. edited by Lee A. Jacobus. 9th ed. Bedford/St.

Martin’s, 2013, pp. 269-276.