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MLA Citation Format

Spring 2015 – Adele Enright, Librarian

Rio Hondo College Library

+What is a Citation?

A citation is a reference to the source of an idea, information or image. A citation usually includes identifying information, such as the author, title, and publication format, that enables a reader to be able to access the original source.

+Why Cite?

You are using someone else’s intellectual property

Credits the the author

Acknowledges origin of your information

Credibility is given to your paper, it show evidence of your research

Authenticity of your information is shown

Location is stated so that the reader can access the original

+Which One Should I Use MLA, APA, or ASA?

MLA or Modern Language Association

APA or American Psychological Association

ASA or American Sociological Association

Use the one your professor specifies!

In general MLA is used researches in the Humanities. APA is used by scientists, and ASA is used by social scientists.

+Cite this Book in MLA Format

The Climate Revealed

By William J Burroughs.  

Published (location): Cambridge

Cambridge University Press

Date: 1999. Pages: 192 pages

ISBN: 0521770815

Call number QC981.2.B87 1999

+Let’s See Your Citation

Burroughs, William J. Climate Revealed. New York:

Cambridge UP, 1999. Print.

+What Tools Can I Use to Help Me? Library Databases have citation creators as a feature.

MS WORD

Other websites

Be sure to check the formats. Citation generators require the user (you) to check for errors

In the end, you are responsible for the citation format.

Most professors at Rio Hondo want you to learn how to format citations so that you can understand this process from the ground up.

+MS WORD Citation Generator(see Document Elements)