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 Helpful Hints for Research Projects and MLA Citation
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The best way to support your contentions when writing a literature paper is to use the author's exact words from the literature. Of course when you copy an author's words exactly, you must enclose the words in quotation marks (“ ) AND cite the source in parentheses (Poe 236). There are three basic steps for using such quotes:
- Give background information: What does your reader need to know in order to understand the quote you are about to use?
- Introduce and give the quote:
Do not start a sentence with a quote. Introduce the quote with a lead. The following are examples of leads:
- Edgar Allan Poe writes, “
- Johnny says, “
Give the quote by correctly copying it word for word and enclosing it in quotes. After the quotations, YOU MUST CITE THE SOURCE IN PARENTHESES.
EXAMPLE: According to Charles Dickens the eighteenth century was both “the best of times” and “the worst of times”(35).
NOTICE:
- Since the author is written in the text, only the page number is necessary in the parentheses.
- In addition, the period goes after the parentheses.
- If the author is not mentioned in the text (which should rarely occur), the citation would look like (Dickens 35). NO comma!
- Do not include the abbreviation “p.” (or “pp.”) or the word page (or pages)
- 3. Explain HOW the quote supports your idea, opinion, or contention. Make sure that you stay focused on the thesis or topic sentence in this step.
- Give the chapter number as well as the page number in the edition you used unless instructed differently:
- At the conclusion of Charles Dickens's novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Sidney Carton states, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known” (367; ch.15).
- Give line numbers, not page numbers:
Three lines or fewer use slashes ( / ). Use a space on either side of the slash.
Robert Frost writes, “Whose woods these are I think I know. / His house is in the village though; / He will not see me stopping here [. . .]” (lines 1- 3).
Poems containing four or more lines use block style. Use a colon, tab twice (10 spaces), and double space.
No quotes unless it is a quote within the quote. Then you would use single quotes (' ).
Robert Frost writes:
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- Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
(lines 1-4)
- Classic Poem
- For classical poems such as The Odyssey, give the book or part number, followed by line numbers, not page numbers: (10. 35-41).
Drama
Give the play's title, act, scene, and line numbers, using Arabic numerals. Use slashes if three lines or fewer and block with more than three lines.
Lady Macbeth says to her husband Macbeth, “We fail? / But screw your courage to the sticking-place, / And we'll not fail” (Macbeth 1.7.59 - 61).
MACBETH.
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- [. . .] Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by and idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing [. . .] (Macbeth 5.5.19-28)
- For most literature papers, a works cited page is not required if there is no additional outside research required. When writing a works cited page keep the following in mind:
- Double-space all entries (make sure you don't accidentally put extra spaces between entries).
- Put entries in alphabetical order
- Follow the format according to the Sackets Harbor Central School MLA Style Sheets
Brooks, Cleanth and Warren, Robert. Understanding Poetry. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1960.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Signet Classic, 1997.
Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. Third Edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Perfection Learning Corporation, 1998.
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Basic Rules for in-text citation:
1. You MUST cite within the text. A works cited page at the end is not enough. Yes, the reader sees from the works cited page that you used three sources. However, the reader cannot see where in the text each individual source is located. Look at the following example from a student's paper:
World problems are inherent in the current system of world order. These problems stem from economic competition. Global tensions can be solved if people move beyond economic competition.
If the reader goes to the works cited page for this particular paper, he will find a list of three sources. It is impossible for the reader to distinguish which source the information above came from. Therefore, if the reader wishes to read the source, he will not be able to.
2. Failure to use in-text citations is plagiarism!
3. Any ideas that are not your own must be cited! Even if you put information in your own words, you must use in-text citations. Let us look at the example above again. William Ellis provided that information in his book. Although the reader did not use his exact words, he must still use in-text citation. He must include the last name and the page from which the information came. Look at the correct citation.
World problems are inherent in the current system of world order. These problems stem from economic competition. Global tensions can be solved if people move beyond economic competition (Ellis 23).
4. The writer must use FRAMES. In other words, the beginning and end of each citation must be clear to the reader. Therefore, it is best to use the author's name in the text before the information and simply put the page number at the end. Look at the new improved version:
William Ellis contends that world problems are inherent in the current system of world order. These problems stem from economic competition. Global tensions can be solved if people move beyond economic competition (23).
If the student then goes onto a new source, he simply uses the new author's name:
William Ellis contends that world problems are inherent in the current system of world order. These problems stem from economic competition. Global tensions can be solved if people move beyond economic competition (23). James Howard agrees that the obsession with economics must be controlled (35).
Framing Internet sources is a bit more complicated. Since page numbers are not typically found on Internet sources, ending the citation is more difficult. Ending the citation can be achieved two ways. It is the instructor's choice as to how the frame should be closed. In Sackets Harbor, you are required to end the frame with the screen number. You can locate the screen number by going to File/Print Preview. Different browsers display different screens; therefore it is important that you ask your teacher which browser to use.
According to Henry Combs, the children responded best to positive reinforcement (screen 3).
5. Direct quotes must be cited immediately and set off with quotation marks. If you take the information word for word, you must introduce the quote with the author's name and end it with the page number. Look at the example below:
Bobby Brown stated, “Those baseballs were not in any way tampered with” (78).
Notice that the period goes after the ( ).
6. If you quote information already being quoted from another source, use the abbreviated qtd. in to clarify the source. For example,
Bill Smith said, “We were thrilled that the team won despite the loss of our starting point guard” (qtd. in Gammon 32).
7. If the quote is four or more lines (which it really shouldn't be) indent
the whole quote ten spaces and omit quotation marks.
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- WARNING! Do not make the mistake of patchwork plagiarism. Have you ever used the “big” words from the source to sound smart? That is patchwork plagiarism. If the words did not originate from your head, don't use them.
- Here are some helpful hints to avoid patchwork plagiarism::
- Do not attempt to paraphrase each sentence of a source. Instead, read at least two or three paragraphs, push the source away from you, and write down everything you remember. If there is something you must take word for word, be sure to use quotes - even within your note taking.
- REMEMBER to write the page number where you found the information as you take notes.
- Fill out the Sackets Harbor Documentation Style Sheets
- Use 3x5 or 4x6 index cards on which to take your notes. Do the following for easy organization:
- On the upper left hand corner write the author or the source
- On the upper right hand corner write the category or the possible sub-topic
- Don't forget to write the page on which you found the information!!!!!
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The following is an example of the MLA title page format, a work cited page and general directions.
The directions for the example paragraph are the following:
In The Killer's Cousin, a guilty conscience seems to be the only punishment that Lily and David must endure. In real life, more and more children commit acts of violence. In a well-written paragraph, discuss ONE solution to child violence. Your job is to persuade your audience to take your solution seriously. Therefore, you must first distinguish who your audience is. Are you persuading parents? Children? Lawmakers?
Be sure to have a solid topic sentence that states your opinion. You must support your opinion with ONE source. You must use correct MLA documentation. Yes, you must cite the information in the text and include a separate works cited page. You are required to use the InfoTrac database.
- To put your name in the upper right hand corner, go to view, header/ footer, hit the tab so that the curser is all the way to the right, type your last name, hit the space bar, click on # on the tool bar located somewhere toward the bottom of your page.
- Brainstorm ideas. Here are some ideas:
- schools should put a stop to bullying
- prosecute children of violent crimes as adults
- strict gun laws
- safety latches on guns
- reduce media coverage of violent crimes
- stop making violent video games
- stop making music that promotes violence
Basically you are selecting one problem that you believe should be fixed. Therefore, you must discuss in your own words why you think it is a problem that leads to violence and give evidence (source) to support your contention.
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SAMPLE RESEARCH PARAGRAPH
Paragraph should be double spaced. Work cited entry should be indented on the second line. "Doe 1" should be included in a header.
See the pdf document for actual formatting
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Jane Doe Doe 1
Mrs. Esposito
English 10
4 February 2005
Teach the Parents to be the Teachers
One solution to help prevent the violence exhibited by too many of today's angry youth is to teach parents and guardians how to raise healthier, happier children. Anyone who has watched Dr. Phil, or Oprah Winfrey, or Maury Povich can concede that parents are having trouble with their angry, violent children. Swami Brahmavidyananda, an advocate of non-violent child rearing, says, “During my 25-year residency in South and Central America and the US, many parents have complained to me about their children's behaviour” (screen 1). Parents are lost. They are in the middle of the forest unable to find their way home. They need help, want help, and should get help with how to discipline constructively. Instead, frustrated parents often mistakenly choose to discipline their children in ways that foster more anger. They demand respect without giving it; they scream at their children without listening to them, and they hit their children when they should be hugging them. Brahmavidyananda says, “By giving external punishment you can not change internal habits, temperaments and natural tendencies” (screen 1). Parents are lost. Parents and guardians love their children; of this there can be no doubt. They do not intentionally choose to raise angry kids; the notion that they do is ridiculous. However, they are ill equipped to deal with kids who are under so much stress today. Therefore, it is necessary to provide parents and guardians with the skills they need to communicate better with their children so that they can find their way home again.
NOTE:
- A works cited page must always accompany the research paper
- The title is not underlined or quoted
- The date is written out with the day first
- The last name along with the page number is in the upper right hand corner (directions below)
The following is the work cited for this paragraph:
Brahmavidyananda, Swami. “Are We Raising Violent Children?” Skipping Stones Sept. 1998:35. InfoTrac Onefile. Thomson Gale. Sackets Harbor School Library Media Center, Sackets Harbor, NY. 27 Jan. 2005.<http://infotrac.galegroup.com/path:search;parents and violent children>.
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NOTICE: According to The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the internet address. Ex. http://www.Harbrace.com. It is necessary to provide the URL for every internet source you include in your works cited. Some URLs are short and can be copied directly from the address bar (<http:stanfordmag.org.marapril99/Beowulf>). However, if the URL is extremely long (<http:English.edu/grammar/233_8886//.48**&^$##@johkdn
9096&*^%$#jfjfjdkfk>), it is necessary to cite the document's home page, following it with the word path, a colon, and the sequence of links you used. The sequence of links means everything you typed in or on which you clicked. Separate the links with semicolons (Glenn et al. 304-5).
Remember!!!! Web sites often change, especially CNN. For this reason, it is necessary to check the URL just prior to handing in the paper. The key to the URL is to make sure that the teacher/professor can locate the source!
Glenn, Cheryl, et al. The Writer's Harbrace Handbook. 2nd ed. Australia: Thompson Wadsworth, 2004.
Example:
<http://infotrac.galegroup.com/path:search;parentsandviolentchildren>.
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Some teachers have created wonderful projects that require a plethora of pictures. These too must be documented. However, at the seventh and eighth grade level, it is only required that 20% of pictures include such documentation if, and only if, the project requires several pictures. We understand that at the seventh and eighth grade level, you are just getting your feet wet in the ocean of MLA. Understand, however, that when you enter high school and college, all pictures will require documentation.
For the in-text citation of a picture, put the title or description of the picture in parentheses under the picture.
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Top of Page
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The following bullets are basic instructions for a work/s cited page from A Writer's Resource:
- Begin the work(s) cited page on a new page. (Be sure to include your last name and the appropriate page number).
- Begin with the centered title “Works Cited.” If you have only one work, then begin with the centered title “Work Cited.” NOTE: On your works cited page, you will not underline or quote the words “Work Cited.”
- Include an entry for every in-text citation
- Follow the correct MLA documentation format according to the specifications for the particular type of source used. It can be found on the library web page.
- Do not number the entries
- Put entries in alphabetical order by author's or editor's last name. (If the author is unknown, use the first word of the title, excluding the articles a, an, or the) (If using the editor, put ed. following the name).
- Use a hanging indent: Start the first line of each entry at the left margin, and indent all subsequent lines of the entry five spaces (or one-half inch on the computer)
- Double space within entries and between then. Be careful not to put four spaces between entries (Maimon and Peritz 213).
Maimon, Elaine, P. and Janice H. Peritz. A Writer's Resource: A Handbook for Writing and Research. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
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MLA PERFORMANCE RUBRIC - GRADES 7-12 (for use when 3 or more sources are required)
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Performance task(s)): Students will attach a complete and accurate works cited page to their research project/paper. All sources will be accurate, authoritative, objective, current* & comprehensive.
Minimum Points: Students must score an 85 or above on the MLA Performance Rubric for the paper to be accepted by the teacher. Your English teacher will include the grade in his/her grade book as well. Penalties for late papers due to a poor performance on the MLA Performance Rubric will vary according to the teacher.
Required Signatures: Students must have the Librarian check and sign the sources for criteria 1-3. Your English teacher must check and sign for criteria 4 & 5.
| CRITERIA |
1
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2 |
3 |
4 |
Signature |
Score |
1. Accuracy
& Authority
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Most sources have inaccuracies & are written by under-qualified author(s) |
Some sources are accurate & authoritative - others are not |
Most sources are accurate & authoritative |
All sources are accurate & authoritative |
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___x5 ___
(20)
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| 2. Currency & Coverage |
Few current* sources with broad subject coverage were used/cited |
At least half the works cited are current* with broad subject coverage |
Most of the works cited are current* with broad subject coverage |
All of the works cited are current* with broad subject coverage. . Includes more than the minimum required # of sources. |
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___x5 ___
(20)
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| 3. Variety of Media |
Little variety in media formats were used/cited. Heavy reliance on one type of resource. |
Some variety in media formats were used/cited. Leans too heavily on 1 type of resource. |
Many media formats were used/cited. |
A superior variety of media formats were used/cited. Includes more than the minimum required # of sources. |
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___x5 ___
(20)
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| 4. MLA Format & Content |
MLA format has not been used accurately in most of the works cited. There are many punctuation errors & significant content errors. |
MLA format has been used accurately in some of the works cited. Some punctuation & content errors. |
MLA format has been used accurately in most works cited. Occasional punctuation errors. Very few content errors. |
MLA format has been used accurately in all works cited. No content or punctuation errors. |
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___x5 ___
(20)
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5. MLA
In-text citation
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Most citations lack proper framing. |
Some citations lack proper framing. |
Framing has been used accurately with minor errors. |
Framing has been used accurately |
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___x5 ___
(20)
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Final Score: ___________ Final Grade: ____________
- For certain subjects, such as history and biography, currency may not be as important. However, at least 1 or 2 current sources should be used, no matter what the topic.
- Adapted from
Henry, Jacquie. “Works Cited Performance Rubric Grades 9-12.” Gananda School Library Home Page. 11 August 2005 <http://www.gananda.org/library/mshslibrary/rubric.htm>
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Carole L. Ashbridge, M.L.S.
Library Media Specialist
Last updated 29 August 2005
©Copyright 2005
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MLA CENTRAL
Sackets Harbor School Works Cited Style Sheet (in .pdf format)
Web Editor at SHCS LMC