MLA Handbook
MLA Handbook by Call Number: REF.LB2369.G532009ISBN: 9781603292627Publication Date: 2016-04-01The Modern Language Association, the authority on research and writing, takes a fresh look at documenting sources in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. Works are published today in a dizzying range of formats. A book, for example, may be read in print, online, or as an e-book--or perhaps listened to in an audio version. On the Web, modes of publication are regularly invented, combined, and modified. Previous editions of the MLA Handbook provided separate instructions for each format, and additional instructions were required for new formats. In this groundbreaking new edition of its best-selling handbook, the MLA recommends instead one universal set of guidelines, which writers can apply to any type of source. Shorter and redesigned for easy use, the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook guides writers through the principles behind evaluating sources for their research. It then shows them how to cite sources in their writing and create useful entries for the works-cited list. More than just a new edition, this is a new MLA style.
Understanding MLA
MLA (Modern Language Association) Style is commonly used to cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities.
MLA In-Text Cotations
In-Text Citations in MLA 8th Edition
In-Text citations are brief citations found after a direct quote or a paraphrase. They are located in the body of your work.
In-Text citations are placed in parentheses, and have two components
- The first word found in the full citation on the Works Cited page (usually the last name of the author)
- The location of the direct quote or paraphrase (usually a page number)
In-Text citations should be placed directly after the direct quote or paraphrase, or in a place that is a natural pause and does not cause the reader to become distracted while reading the body of your work.
Example:
In order to prevent starvation, Watney knew exactly what he needed to do. “My best bet for making calories is potatoes” (Weir 17).
When using the author’s name in the sentence, only include the page number in the parentheses.
Example:
Seuss’s use of words such as, “lurk” and “dank” help students understand the type of character that the Once-ler is (6).
MLA Paper Format
MLA Worksheet
Creative License
