MLA In-text Citations

Direct Quote, Summary & Paraphrasing Examples

Citing a Direct Quote

“The key to the mission was the innovative idea of combining an aircraft carrier with the Billys. Japan assumed itself safe from air threats because land-based U.S. Army aircraft couldn’t reach the homeland from Hawaii or Midway” (Source C).

When you have text that you want to quote directly,

follow these steps: Copy the quote word-

for-word, using the exact same

punctuation, spelling, etc.

Attribute the source directly after the

quoted text.

Direct Quote w/Author in text

According to Source C “the key to the mission was the innovative idea of combining an aircraft carrier with the Billys” (Source C).

When you have text that you want to quote directly

but you attribute the source in the quote, follow

these steps: Copy the quote word-

for-word, using the exact same

punctuation, spelling, etc. after your

attribution. Attribute the source

directly before the quoted text.

Source used here; not needed in p.r.

Source C stated “the key to the mission was the innovative idea of combining an aircraft carrier with the Billys”.

OR…

Not needed

Paraphrasing When you have text

that you paraphrase, follow these steps:

Read the quote, then put the quote in your

own words. Do not just choose a

few words to change!! Attribute the source

directly after the quoted text.

Text from Source A:“Japan assumed itself safe from air threats because land-based U.S. Army aircraft couldn’t reach the homeland from Hawaii or Midway” (Source A).

Because U.S. aircraft were grounded Japan thought air attacks weren’t likely (Source A).

Paraphrasing Read the text to the

right. Then read the sample

paraphrase below. Is this is a good

example of paraphrasing?

Why or why not?

Original Paragraph from Source D“The General Assembly should act to allow judges to impose capital punishment without requiring all 12 jurors to agree on death. All 12 should agree on guilt, but the penalty phase should be a simple recommendation to the judge who could impose the appropriate penalty”.

The state government should make a law so that judges can decide the death penalty without 12 jurors agreeing. The jurors should all agree the criminal is guilty, but the final punishment should be left up to the judge (Source D).

Paraphrasing Read the text to the

right. Then read the sample

paraphrase below. Is this is a good

example of paraphrasing?

Why or why not?

Original Paragraph from Source D “The General Assembly should act to allow judges to impose capital punishment without requiring all 12 jurors to agree on death. All 12 should agree on guilt, but the penalty phase should be a simple recommendation to the judge who could impose the appropriate penalty”.

Laws should be changed so that once jurors have unanimously determined a person’s guilt, the decision to charge capital punishment should be determined by the judge, not the jury (Source D).

Working Source Name into

Paraphrase Use transitional terms

such as: According to, furthermore, etc.

Use action verbs such as: stated, defended,

argued, etc.

Original Paragraph from Source D “The General Assembly should act to allow judges to impose capital punishment without requiring all 12 jurors to agree on death. All 12 should agree on guilt, but the penalty phase should be a simple recommendation to the judge who could impose the appropriate penalty”.

According to Source D laws should be changed so that once jurors have unanimously determined a person’s guilt, the decision to charge capital punishment should be determined by the judge, not the jury.

Working Source Name into

Paraphrase

Original Paragraph from Source D “The General Assembly should act to allow judges to impose capital punishment without requiring all 12 jurors to agree on death. All 12 should agree on guilt, but the penalty phase should be a simple recommendation to the judge who could impose the appropriate penalty”.

Source D stated laws should be changed so that once jurors have unanimously determined a person’s guilt, the decision to charge capital punishment should be determined by the judge, not the jury (Source D).

Use transitional terms such as: According to,

furthermore, etc. Use action verbs such

as: stated, defended, argued, etc.

Why isn’t this necessary?

Working Source Name into

Paraphrase

Original Paragraph from Source D “The General Assembly should act to allow judges to impose capital punishment without requiring all 12 jurors to agree on death. All 12 should agree on guilt, but the penalty phase should be a simple recommendation to the judge who could impose the appropriate penalty”.

Judges should make the final decision as to a criminal’s punishment. Source D argued that laws should be changed so that once jurors have unanimously determined a person’s guilt, the decision to charge capital punishment should be determined by the judge, not the jury.

Use transitional terms such as: According to,

furthermore, etc. Use action verbs such

as: stated, defended, argued, etc.

Your thought or argument,

followed by support from

Source D

Works CitedBradley, James. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage. Little Brown &

Company; New York, 2003.

The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010. Web. 07 Oct 2010.

Wooten, Jim. "Death Penalty: Fix What's Broken." Atlanta Journal-

Constitution (Atlanta, GA). 15 Dec 2008: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web.

07 Oct 2010.