MLA for the Modern Student:
A Practical Guide for Citing Internet and Book Resources
Based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th Edition
By Minute Help Guides
© 2011 by Minute Help, Inc.
Published at SmashWords
Introduction
The MLA Handbook was first published by the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) in 1951. This group of scholars and teachers began the organization in 1883, around the same time that modern languages were starting to make a regular appearance in printed works. These scholars wanted a uniform method of documenting facts, opinions, documents, and phrases in order to allow publications to be more easily prepared and referenced.
The first publication of what is now the MLA Handbook was called the MLA Style Sheet and over time has expanded to address the citation requirements of undergrads completing their studies. In 1977 a new publication of the “Sheet” – called the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers was published to incorporate changing needs of editors and publishers. New editions have followed, with the seventh edition being published in 2009. This latest edition also includes rules for citing electronic sources, such as web sites and e-books.
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is in most cases intended for papers that are being prepared for professional publication or study. Students may find that their school encourages (or requires) the use of MLA guidelines when writing papers, but professors may have alternate requirements. In all cases your professor’s formatting and citation instructions should be followed, if different.
Changes from Previous Version:
Book, periodical, and other titles are no italicized, instead of underlined.
The Handbook no longer requires URLs for electronic sources, as they are not static. Instead, include enough information so readers can find the sources through a search.
Abbreviations: n. pag. for sources without page numbers, n.d. for no sources with no date, and N.p. if the name of the publisher is absent.
All entries in a reference list must include the medium in which they have been published (Print, Web, DVD, Television, etc.).
Why Crediting Sources is Important
One of the primary goals of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is to present writers with an easy-to-follow, uniform method of crediting their sources. Why? Because otherwise you are presenting an idea that others will assume is your own – which is considered plagiarism.
Plagiarism is serious, and it can cost you your job, your reputation, or get you expelled from school. Following guidelines to cite your sources will ensure that your paper is widely accepted, and will lend credit to your ideas. Whether you are quoting, paraphrasing, or borrowing a phrase you must properly cite your sources.
Preventing Self-Plagiarism
By citing sources using the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers writers can also prevent self-plagiarism, intentional or unintentional. Self-plagiarism involves reusing your own previously published or unpublished work and presenting it as new material. Even if the work is your own, you must cite it as a source.
Formatting Guidelines
A second purpose of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is to provide writers with a guideline for formatting their paper. Writers can use the guideline to ensure that their papers meet a uniform standard and are easy to read. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers provides a guide for margin spacing, typeface, spacing, and page headers and numbers, as well as table formats. Continue reading for an outline on Handbook guidelines.
Paper
Use high quality, 8 ½” by 11” paper, which should only be printed on one side. Final copies should be submitted on non-erasable paper.
Margins and Justification
All margins should be one-inch, and the first word of every paragraph should be indented ½ inch, or 5 spaces. Sentences should be left to wrap jagged on the right, and writers should turn off automatic hyphenation.
Typesetting
The Handbook recommends an easy to read typeface, such as Times New Roman.
Line Spacing & Punctuation
All text should be double-spaced - including lists, citations, footnotes, and tables. The same goes if you are handwriting your paper. One space should follow any type of punctuation. On occasion your professor may request two spaces, in which case his instructions should be followed.
Titles
Research papers are generally not given a title page; rather on the first page information is included to tell the reader about the purpose of the paper. Below is a sample of the title format:
Writer’s Full Name
Professor’s Name
Class
Date (DD Month YYYY)
Title of Paper (Centered)
First paragraph begins here, left-aligned with no justification. One inch margins on each side, with no hyphenations.
Page Numbers
The header on each page should include your last name and the page number, right aligned, positioned ½ inch from the top of the page.
Tables and Illustrations
Tables should be place near the text to which they refer. In general a table is identified as follows:
Table 1 - Table + numeric number
Percentage of Americans with High Speed Internet - Caption
Any sources or notes are placed immediately below the table. Notes should have a superscript lowercase letter placed beside them to avoid confusion between them and the normal text of the document. Use dividing lines to differentiation between headings and data.
Illustrations and other visual materials are labelled Figure or Fig., followed by a number. Usually this is followed by a title or caption. Musical illustrations (ie: sheet music) use Example or Ex.
Works Cited List Formatting
Anytime you reference another person’s work you need to gather information in order to provide others with the sources of your information.
Basic Guidelines
The list of works cited begins on a new page at the end of the paper, numbered (continue the page numbering from the rest of the paper). The title “Works Cited” is centered on the top of the page – 1 inch from the top.
For works cited page all entries will use a hanging indent, meaning that the first line of the citation is left-aligned, while subsequent lines are indented five space, like so:
Castro, Elizabeth. HTML for the World Wide Web. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2000. Print.
Order of Entries
The works cited is sorted alphabetically by the author’s last name. If there is no author then use the title, alphabetized by the first initial, the same applies if the author is a corporation. Here is a list of the general order of works cited entries:
Author’s Last Name
Title of a Section of a Book
Title of Book
Name of the editor, translator, or compiler
Further alphabetization rules can be found in the Handbook, Chapter 5.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations are commonly used in the works cited list and in tables. In general periods are not used within abbreviations, except for after initials. Unless within parentheses abbreviations are not usually used in text.
Use official abbreviations for the U.S. states, and refer to the U.S. Postal Service website for assistance. Below is a list of standard abbreviations that can be used: