Transcript Death by MLA

 2009 updates to MLA
 General MLA guidelines
 First page format
 Plagiarism
 In-text citations
 Formatting quotations
 Works Cited page
Document Format
In-text citations
Works Cited
2009 changes in MLA:
 No more Underlining (only use italics)
 Publication Medium (e.g. Print, Web, etc.)
 New Abbreviations (e.g. “N.p.” for “no
publisher given”)
8.5” x 11” WHITE paper
BLACK ink
Double Space
Times New Roman Font
Size 12 Point
Pagination with last name; one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin
1” Margins on both sides
No cover page unless otherwise specified
Left hand corner: Name, Teacher name, Class, Assignment name or Date
Title of paper center
Indent the 1st line of every paragraph one half inch from left margin (tab once)
Italicize all titles
“The deliberate use and appropriation of another’s
work without any indication of the source and the
passing off of such work as the student’s own. Any
student who fails to give credit for ideas or materials
taken from another is guilty of plagiarism. Any
student helping another to plagiarize may be found
guilty of academic misconduct” (136).
Passing off
someone else’s
ideas, words,
concepts, or
thoughts as
your own;
stealing
Using a writer’s
creation
without giving
credit to the
source
Presenting an
idea or product
as new and
original from
an existing
source







You quote an entire paper or page - whether you give
credit or not.
You copy and paste text directly from a website without
giving credit to the source, using quotation marks or
paraphrasing.
You copy and paste a picture from the internet without
citing the original source.
You use another student’s paper, change the name, and
submit it as your own.
You rearrange or replace some words with synonyms
when using another student’s paper.
You purchase a written paper from the internet, friends, or
any other source that is not you.
You have a friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, classmate,
teammate, or anyone else, write a paper for you.
Original Material
Student Material
With FIU down 21-15 and 2:14
With FIU losing 21-15 and 2:14
remaining in the match, Hilton
fumbled an end-around handoff from
quarterback Paul McCall, picked up
the ball as he was being pursued by
Red Wolves, and discovered a wide
open Mertile downfield for a
touchdown to boost Fiu over
Arkansas State.
left in the game, Hilton fumbled an
end-around handoff from
quarterback Paul McCall, scooped
up the ball as he was being chased
by Red Wolves, and found a wide
open Mertile downfield for a
touchdown to lift FIU over
Arkansas State.


Use your own words! Write your
own thoughts, experiences,
opinions, or conclusions about the
subject. It’s your voice; use it.
Use MLA format and cite sources
correctly
Too little; lazy,
lack of
evidence, not
credible
Too much; no
voice, no
analysis, no
relevancy
Susan Bordo writes about women and dieting.
“Fiji is just one example. Until television was
introduced in 1995, the islands had no
reported cases of eating disorders. In 1998,
three years after programs from the United
States and Britain began broadcasting there,
62 percent of the girls surveyed reported
dieting.” I think Bordo is right. Another point
Bordo makes is that…
Failure to
introduce
quote
adequately
Failure to
explain why
writer finds it
worth
quoting
Failure to
state who
Bordo is or
that the
words are
hers
Failure to
explain how
the quote
connects with
anything
the writer is
saying.
Drop in
quote and
move on to
next point
(Hit and
Run)
To adequately frame a
quotation you need to
insert it into a “quotation
sandwich,” with the
statement introducing it
serving as the top slice of
bread, and the
explanation following it
serving as the bottom
slice of bread.
Introductory or lead-in claims should
explain who is speaking and set up what
the quotation says; the follow up
statements should explain why you
consider the quotation to be important
and what you take it to say.
Verbs
Acknowledges
Agrees
Argues
Believes
Claims
Contends
Illustrates
Observes
Reasons
Suggests
Phrases




In the words of
As noted by
Points out that
Offers an
argument that

As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “_______.”

According to X, “_______.”

X himself writes, “______.”

In her book, ______, X maintains that “_____.”

Writing in the journal Commentary, X complains that “_________.”

In X’s view, “_____.”

X agrees when she writes, “_____.”

X disagrees when he writes, “_____.”

X complicates matters further when she writes, “______.”
Note: language should accurately reflect the tone of the quoted passage. For instance note the
difference between “Bordo states” and “Bordo is alarmed that…” or “Bordo complains…”

Basically, X is saying _______.

In other words, X believes ________.

In making this comment, X argues that _____.

X is insisting that _______.

X’s point is that ________.

The essence of X’s argument is that _______.
The feminist philosopher Susan Bordo deplores the hold that the
Western obsession with dieting has on women. Her basic argument
is that increasing numbers of women across the globe are being led
to see themselves as fat and in need of diet. Citing the island of Fiji
as a case in point, Bordo notes that “until television was introduced in
1995, the islands had no reported cases of eating disorders. In 1998,
three years after programs from the United States and Britain began
broadcasting there, 62 percent of the girls surveyed reported dieting”
(149-50). Bordo’s point is that the West’s obsession with dieting is
spreading even to remote places across the globe. Ultimately, Bordo
complains, the culture of dieting will find you, regardless of where
you live. Bordo’s observations rings true to me because a friend of
mine from a remote area in China speaks of the cult of dieting among
young women there…
Introduce quote with Title and Author; place page
number in parentheses at the end of quote.
Introduce quote with Author; place page number in
parentheses at the end of quote.
Place quote first, end with Author and page number in
parentheses.
Place a period at the end of the sentence after a
parenthesis.
Paraphrasing is a way of presenting a text, keeping the same meaning,
but using different words and phrasing.
Paraphrasing is used with short sections of text, such as phrases and
sentences.

does not match the source word for word

involves putting a passage from a source into your own
words

changes the words or phrasing of a passage, but retains
and fully

communicates the original meaning

must be attributed to the original source
The original passage:
 Students frequently overuse direct quotation in
taking notes, and as a result they overuse
quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably
only about 10% of your final manuscript should
appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you
should strive to limit the amount of exact
transcribing of source materials while taking
notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
A legitimate paraphrase:
 Lester states that in research papers students
often quote excessively, failing to keep
quoted material down to a desirable level.
Since the problem usually originates during
note taking, it is essential to minimize the
material recorded verbatim ( 46-47).






Read the source carefully. It is essential that you
understand it fully.
Identify the main point(s) and key words.
Cover the original text and rewrite it in your own
words. Check that you have included the main
points.
Write the paraphrase in your own style.
Consider each point; how could you rephrase it?
Begin the paraphrase with the author’s name so
the reader knows when the paraphrase beings.

Paraphrase short sections of work only; a sentence
or two or a short paragraph.

As an alternative to a direct quotation.

To rewrite someone else’s ideas without changing
the meaning.

To express someone else’s ideas in your own words.

To support claims in, or provide evidence for, your
own writing.
A summary is an overview of a text. The main idea is given, but details,
examples and formalities are left out. Used with longer texts, the main aim of
summarizing is to reduce or condense a text to it’s most important ideas.

does not match the source word for word

involves putting the main idea(s) into your own
words, but including only the main point(s)

presents a broad overview, so is usually much
shorter than the original text

must be attributed to the original source
The original passage:
 Students frequently overuse direct quotation in
taking notes, and as a result they overuse
quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably
only about 10% of your final manuscript should
appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you
should strive to limit the amount of exact
transcribing of source materials while taking
notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
An acceptable summary:
 According to Lester, students should take just
a few notes in direct quotation from sources
to help minimize the amount of quoted
material in a research paper (46-47).

The amount of detail you include in a summary
will vary according to the length of the original
text, how much information you need and how
selective you are.

Start by reading a short text and highlighting the
main points as you read.

Reread the text and make notes of the main
points, leaving out examples, evidence etc.

Without the text, rewrite your notes in your own
words; restate the main idea at the beginning plus
all major points.

Summarize long sections of work, like a long
paragraph, page or chapter.

To outline the main points of someone else’s work in
your own words, without the details or examples.

To include an author’s ideas using fewer words than
the original text.

To briefly give examples of several differing points
of view on a topic.

To support claims in, or provide evidence for, your
writing.
A quotation is an exact reproduction of spoken or written words. Direct
quotes can provide strong evidence, act as an authoritative voice, or
support a writer’s statements.

match the source word for word (unless you
change a word to make grammatical sense; then
use brackets [ ]

are usually a brief segment of the text

appear between quotation marks

must be attributed to the original source

Make sure that you have a good reason to use a direct quotation. Quoting
should be done sparingly and should support your own work, not replace it.
For example, make a point in your own words, then support it with an
authoritative quote.

Direct quotations should appear between quotation marks (“ “)

A short quotation often works well integrated into a sentence.

Longer quotations (more than 4 lines of text) should be in block quote
format.

Appears exactly the way it is in the original text and exactly reproduce text,
including punctuation and capital letters.

Cited with a page or paragraph number in parentheses. Citation at the end of
the sentence is placed before the period.

Can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of sentence. Can be divided
by your words.

When the author’s words convey a powerful
meaning.

When you want to use the author as an
authoritative voice in your own writing.

To introduce an author’s position you may wish to
discuss.

To support claims in, or provide evidence for, your
writing.
End periods and commas ALWAYS go inside
quotation marks if there is no parenthetical
documentation. If you are using parenthetical
documentation, periods and commas go after the
documentation.
 Examples:

 The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk"
again within 30 seconds.
.
 She said, "Hurry up "
 She said, "Hurry up" (41)
.

Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes. Note
that the period goes inside all quote marks.
▪ He said, "Dania said, 'Do not treat me that way.'"

Semicolons and colons always go outside quotation marks if
they are used at the end of the quotation.
 Example: Dan always said, "I think you're wrong"; he was always very
arrogant.

Question marks and exclamation points go inside the
quotations marks unless they are not part of the quotation.
 Examples:
▪ She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"
▪ Do you agree with the saying, "All's fair in love and war"?

If you ellipse information within a sentence, use
three periods with one space between each period,
and place the ellipses in brackets.
 Example: He wants to see the "Eskimo [. . .] catching
those two fish."

If you ellipse from one sentence to another, you
should indicate the first sentence has ended by
using four periods.
 Example: When he speaks of his sister, Holden says, "The
trouble is, she's a little too affectionate [. . . .] She really is"
(68).
Use brackets any time you change words to make
grammatical sense.

Longer than four lines

No quotation marks

Page number placed in parentheses at the end,
after the period

One paragraph – all lines indented 10 spaces
from the left




You do not use quotation marks with block quotations, unless the
quotations contain dialogue. End punctuation of block quotations
comes before documentation.
Use blocking for quotations which exceed four lines--typed or
handwritten. These quotations should be indented two tab stops from
the left margin. All block quotations should be double spaced.
Introduce the quotation with a complete sentence and a colon.
Example:
 Rene Gallimard demonstrates to the audience the painful reality of his
situation:
I have not been able to sleep for days…the pressure is
mounting so that my head feels like it is in a vice…I know it is only a
matter of time before I shatter, break, and crumble into dust. The
time for change is now. (42)

Separate page and last page of essay

Titled – “Works Cited” centered

Hanging indent for each entry

First line flush left

Subsequent lines indented

Alphabetized by author’s last name, if no author editor, if no author or
editor, start with title

Author’s last name followed by comma and first name. If multiple
authors, subsequent authors names appear first name first.

Italicize titles of books and long works, titles of articles in quotation
marks.

Use a period and a space after each element of the entry.
There are online
sources like
easybib.com, &
citationmachine.com;
BEWARE!!
They are NOT 100%
reliable!