Title: The Challenges of Writing a Thesis: A Guide to Citations in MLA Format

Embarking on the journey of writing a thesis is no small feat. It requires dedication, extensive
research, and a meticulous approach to detail. One crucial aspect of crafting a well-rounded research
paper is mastering the art of citations, particularly in the MLA format. As many students can attest,
navigating the complexities of citation styles can be a daunting task.

Citations play a pivotal role in academic writing, providing proper attribution to the sources used and
ensuring the integrity of your research. The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is a widely
adopted citation style that sets specific guidelines for citing various sources, including books,
articles, and online resources. While it is essential for maintaining academic integrity, it can also be a
source of frustration for those unfamiliar with its intricacies.

The MLA format includes specific rules for citing different types of sources, incorporating in-text
citations, and creating a comprehensive Works Cited page. The nuances of these guidelines, such as
italicizing titles, using parenthetical citations, and arranging entries alphabetically, can be
overwhelming for students who are already grappling with the substantial workload that comes with
thesis writing.

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In conclusion, while writing a thesis poses numerous challenges, mastering the intricacies of MLA
format citations shouldn't be one of them. With the assistance of ⇒ BuyPapers.club ⇔, you can
streamline the citation process and ensure that your thesis is a testament to your academic prowess.
Trust in the expertise of professionals to guide you through the complexities of citations, allowing
you to present a polished and well-referenced research paper.
If you do abbreviate, be sure you are using commonly accepted abbreviations, which you can find in
the dictionary. You only include the elements that you have information for in your MLA citations.
The second table in the project is Table 2, and so on. Stop by the CAVE tutors in the Houff Library
or visit their page to learn more. Not only does it tell you how to cite your sources in the body of
your paper, but it breaks down every aspect of your paper creation. Most American colleges use
three common citations styles known as APA, Chicago, and MLA. The publication year is not
required in in-text citations. Only italicize words that would normally be italicized in the text. Certain
words are abbreviated, some words are omitted, and other words are written in full. This libguide
takes a look at the three most common citation styles. Align the title so it sits in the center of the
MLA format paper. It is a helpful and clearly labeled visual aid to refer to. His areas of expertise are
plagiarism and citation. When you’re writing your own paper, you need to make sure you always use
the most recent edition of the style manual. The date of creation or modification of the electronic
article as well as the date of access is included. Even if you cite only one source in your entire
document, you must have a Works Cited page. Quotes should be sprinkled sparingly throughout, and
quotes longer than 4 lines should be formatted as MLA block quotes. Rather than try to figure it all
yourself, you can put your works in the generator, and your citation is generated in seconds.
However, case studies and statistics at the state level are more accessible. Since there are differences
between the two editions, you want to make sure that you use the most up-to-date information. The
paper’s title is centered on a new line under the header. Citing our sources when we write is an
agreed-upon way to acknowledge the people who have helped us shape our ideas, or argue our
points. While Parr’s work features characters of various colors, such as pink or blue, children easily
correlate it with individuals of different races and ethnicities. Remember to pay attention to the core
elements and container system when citing a PowerPoint presentation. That year, Corrections
Corporation of America set up the first privately-operated prison in Tennessee. The publication year
is not required in in-text citations. Submit Rating We are sorry that this post was not useful for you.
Using a specific style type allows readers to navigate their way through your work and presents all
relevant information in a uniform way. MLA was trying to make a format that could withstand the
changing times, particularly for internet sources. This could be a magazine, newspaper, or a monthly
journal.
They can be included mid-sentence if necessary, but be sure to add it after any punctuation, such as
commas or periods. An example of a parenthetical citation is given below. If you’re not sure, look up
your institution’s guidelines or ask directly. Please Check the Library Calendar Lawrenceville
Campus Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus. If your instructor does not provide you with any
expectations or guidance, a simple staple in the top left corner should suffice. For parenthetical
citations, shorten the organization name to the shortest noun phrase. As long as you follow the rules
of the core elements and the container system, you are golden. All entries are double spaced, just like
the rest of the text. All images must include information about its origin. Stop by the CAVE tutors in
the Houff Library or visit their page to learn more. This section focuses on the type of paper to use
for printed submission. Make sure to set up a works cited for your MLA paper. MLA was trying to
make a format that could withstand the changing times, particularly for internet sources. The second
table in the project is Table 2, and so on. A writer can only develop a well-written paraphrase if the
information has been fully grasped and understood. But if only one of the words appears, it should
be written out normally. The heading and the entire paper should be double spaced. Example: An
Analysis of Mythical Creatures in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In terms of writing numbers
using MLA style, depending on the number, you might be using Roman or Arabic numerals and
writing them out in full or using the numerical form. If you’re having difficulty understanding the
information, take a few minutes to read up on tricky words and background information. While spell
checks are beneficial, they do not always spot every mistake, so make sure you take the time to read
through the assignment carefully. This way, the images can work to illustrate your point. The
publication year is not required in in-text citations. Use the interactive example below to see what the
Works Cited entry and MLA in-text citation look like for different source types. Do not simply
substitute words in the original text with synonyms. That’s plagiarism! Show off and demonstrate
your ability to process the original information, connect it to the content in your paper, and write it in
your own individual and unique writing style. Keep in mind that sometimes there might be only one
container, and sometimes there may be more than one container. Plagiarism Use these resources to
understand plagiarism and how to avoid it. Not all elements in the container may be relevant to your
source. As long as you are careful to mind your margins and indents, you are set to go. If you’re
quoting or paraphrasing a specific passage, you also add a page number.
The general rule is that works that are self-contained (like books, journals, or television shows) are
formatted in italics. However, there is a basic format and set of guidelines you can follow for
creating your outline to make it professional and presentable. While that was a few years in the past,
getting everything updated can take a bit of time. A periodical is anything that is published regularly,
multiple times a year. In-text citations in APA and MLA APA reference list vs. However, the MLA
writing style is the preferred style used by high schools because of the flexibility in formatting online
sources. It still isn’t as clear as it could be, but it eliminates the need to check individual citation
requirements for the literally dozens of different entries that are possible. If you choose to create a
title page, keep in mind that there aren’t any official title page or cover page guidelines in MLA
format. Make sure that italics look different from the regular typeface. If your instructor requires you
to create a standalone title page, ask him or her for specifications. Review all proper names, places,
and other unique words to ensure correct spelling. If you’re not sure, look up your institution’s
guidelines or ask directly. But you should not include a colon if the first item in the list is part of the
sentence. The label and title are placed above the table on separate lines; the label and number appear
in bold. It leaves the final call up to the instructor, who may or may not require URLs to be listed. In
addition to creating your standard citation, you create either a summary annotation or evaluative
annotation for each source. You will not need every “core element” in every citation you have, but
they provide you with a roadmap to creating citations with ease. Begin the label with the
abbreviation “Fig.,” which is short for figure. As long as you follow the rules of the core elements
and the container system, you are golden. Use your notes from throughout the semester, use other
outside sources. The publication year is not required in in-text citations. In terms of writing numbers
using MLA style, depending on the number, you might be using Roman or Arabic numerals and
writing them out in full or using the numerical form. His areas of expertise are plagiarism and
citation. These types of footnotes and endnotes are helpful when explaining translations, adding
background information, or sharing counterexamples to research. If the image is not discussed further
in the rest of the paper or project, it is acceptable to include the MLA bibliography format citation
below the image and omit it from the bibliography or MLA format works cited page. MLA does not
have specific instructions for developing an MLA title page. It lists the title of your paper, your full
name, your institution and department, the course the paper is for, your instructor’s name, and the
due date, all centered and double-spaced. The hanging indent helps to emphasize the first element of
the citation. These styles prevent plagiarism, promote proper citations, and create a simple paper
structure system. In general, your punctuation should follow these standards.
Many word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word and Google Drive, provide a free spell
checking feature. Make sure that italics look different from the regular typeface. As always, if your
instructor provides you with specific directions, follow his or her guidelines. Always ask your
professor if you are allowed to engage with ChatGPT or another text generator as part of your work
for your assignment. If all else fails, ask a friend to see if they’re able to make sense of the concepts.
Watch the following video to learn more about why we cite sources in academic work. Please Check
the Library Calendar Lawrenceville Campus Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus. The OWL has
information on how to format your papers, craft your citations, and provides tutorials on how to do
everything in between. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent line(s) 0.5 inch
from the left margin. That year, Corrections Corporation of America set up the first privately-
operated prison in Tennessee. Do not use ivory, off-white, or any other shades or colors. But you
should not include a colon if the first item in the list is part of the sentence. For larger numbers, write
the number itself ( Handbook 82-84). The Inklings were a group of writers in England before WWII,
including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Since the early 1990s, privatized correctional facilities have
increased significantly, nationally and statewide. You also want to pick a typeface that has a clear
contrast between its regular and italic style. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Justice
survey, slightly over 2.2 million people were incarcerated in correctional facilities in this country in
2003. With professors putting their lecture notes online, this can be a great way to get an excellent
primary source. It’s Free! See my latest infographics, learn new tips and tricks, and become a
communication ninja. Note that when an author's last name is provided, we use the author's last name
and page number to cite our source, i.e. (Burckhardt and Morris 410). When you’re writing your own
paper, you need to make sure you always use the most recent edition of the style manual. This
ensures understanding and avoids any confusion from your reader. The rest of the caption gives
either full source information, or (as in the example here) just basic descriptive information about the
image (author, title, publication year). These current statistics show that while state governments
have been forced to manage and operate overcrowded and over-capacity prisons at considerable
costs, many have turned to the private sector to operate prisons (McDonald and Patten Jr.).
According to the General Accounting Office, prison operating costs have grown steadily since 1980,
increasing almost 550 percent since 1980 based on inflation-adjusted dollars (Austin and Coventry
1). All images must include information about its origin. Use the “tab” button on the keyboard to
create a half inch space. Please read over the document below and use it to compare your own work
with for accuracy. An example of a parenthetical citation is given below. This policy has far-ranging
consequences not only within the criminal justice system, but as an instructive example for
government officials when considering the costs and benefits of privatization as a public policy
option. This part usually contains more information in the form of charts and research questionnaires.
If a corporation releases a public statement, the company itself can be listed as the author if no
individual’s name is listed. The first sheet of your paper is the first page of your essay. We cite
according to the 8th edition of MLA, 7th edition of APA, and 17th edition of Chicago (9th edition
Turabian). Most teachers will specify a font they prefer and require you to use that, but if they do not,
you can never go wrong using Times New Roman. In such rare occasions, footnotes are permitted
and should follow the “Name Page; Name Page” format. Add a space between your name and the
page number. While that was a few years in the past, getting everything updated can take a bit of
time. Your image is flush left and labeled with any notes. In such instances, use the date that is most
relevant to your research, i.e., the date that is listed on the source that you consulted. Rather than try
to figure it all yourself, you can put your works in the generator, and your citation is generated in
seconds. Note that while these sample papers do not include MLA abstracts, you should check with
your instructor to see if an abstract should be included. Use your notes from throughout the
semester, use other outside sources. If you’re having difficulty understanding the information, take a
few minutes to read up on tricky words and background information. Sentences should begin one
half inch from the left margin. However, the MLA writing style is the preferred style used by high
schools because of the flexibility in formatting online sources. Private prisons now hold 95,522
inmates in this country, which is 6.5 percent of total prisoners (Beck and Harrison 5). If you’re
wondering why, it’s because they’re cited often and it’s unnecessary to type out the entire title
names. They are to be included in each citation as follows. Include the DOI using the prefix and
remove the hyperlink. The publication year is not required in in-text citations. If the source title is
longer than a noun phrase, use a shortened version of the title. Unlike the American Psychological
Association, which focuses on social sciences, MLA format and citations work to make liberal arts,
humanities, language arts, and cultural studies papers a breeze. STEM Information Cycle guides you
through scientific research. This latter approach, giving private correctional facility firms wide
latitude over inmates, is taken in the Texas criminal justice system. Use the “tab” button on the
keyboard to create a half inch space. For more information on how to style page numbers, check out
the next section, “Running Head and Page Numbers.”. Includes links to useful tools and tutorials, as
well as other citation styles. Do not bold the title, italicize the entire title, place quotation marks
around it, or type the title out in capital letters. In this case, make sure the caption contains at least
enough information—author and (abbreviated) title—to point the reader to the relevant Works Cited
entry. However, the best option for college depends largely on their use.
See the “Quotations” section of this guide to learn how to properly attribute your paraphrased
information. If the source title is longer than a noun phrase, use a shortened version of the title. All
you need is the website URL, book ISBN, or journal article DOI, and the citation generator does the
rest. It lists the title of your paper, your full name, your institution and department, the course the
paper is for, your instructor’s name, and the due date, all centered and double-spaced. Many word
processing programs, such as Microsoft Word and Google Drive, provide a free spell checking
feature. Most American colleges use three common citations styles known as APA, Chicago, and
MLA. Furthermore, six states had at least 25 percent of their prison population housed in private
prisons, led by New Mexico (44%), Alaska (31%), and Montana (29%). If personality is an unbroken
series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened
sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register
earthquakes ten thousand miles away. (Fitzgerald 4). If so, it’s best to base your decision on your
area of study. Sometimes, page numbers or line numbers are also included, especially when text is
quoted from the source being cited. Use your notes from throughout the semester, use other outside
sources. Besides writing articles, Raimo works tirelessly on improving Scribbr's Citation Generator
and Plagiarism Checker tools. In APA this is usually called the reference list; in MLA it’s called the
Works Cited. The rest of the caption gives either full source information, or (as in the example here)
just basic descriptive information about the image (author, title, publication year). Stop by the CAVE
tutors in the Houff Library or visit their page to learn more. The table’s title should be written in title
case form (the first letter of each word is capitalized, except for small, insignificant words). But if
only one of the words appears, it should be written out normally. For example, Times New Roman
font set to 12 points. The page could easily unfold, causing a mess of papers. These types of
footnotes and endnotes are helpful when explaining translations, adding background information, or
sharing counterexamples to research. Do not simply substitute words in the original text with
synonyms. That’s plagiarism! Show off and demonstrate your ability to process the original
information, connect it to the content in your paper, and write it in your own individual and unique
writing style. The OWL has information on how to format your papers, craft your citations, and
provides tutorials on how to do everything in between. It starts with the last names, first initial, and
the middle initial if any. If it isn’t already right-aligned, go to the “Home” menu and right-align
your name. Paraphrasing is an important part of the research and writing process. If, however, you are
citing the title of an individual essay, story, or poem that is a part of a larger whole or collection, this
is placed in quotation marks. The first line of each note is indented; your word processor should
apply this formatting automatically. Many university writing teachers use MLA citation as the
default citation style for their students, no matter what the subject of the student's paper is. If a
stapler is not available, some instructors allow paper or binder clips. Your title should not be
underlined, in quotations, bolded, or in all capitals.