Research SkillsResearch Skills

Mrs. PigoniMrs. Pigoni“You have no say in MLA”“You have no say in MLA”

Why Cite?* To give credit where credit is To give credit where credit is

due: AVOID PLAGIARISMdue: AVOID PLAGIARISM* To establish your credibility as To establish your credibility as

an authoran author* To give readers access to the To give readers access to the

sources you citesources you cite* Provides consistent format within a Provides consistent format within a

disciplinediscipline

Example Source CardExample Source Card

4

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 23 Apr. 2008.

NotecardsNotecards

Topic – Sub Topic Source #

Fact (In-text Citation).

DQ, Para, or Summ

Example NotecardExample Notecard

Purdue University – School Spirit 4

The number one school for school spirit in the country (The Purdue).

Para

MLA FormatMLA Format* Times New Roman – 12 pt. fontTimes New Roman – 12 pt. font* Double SpacedDouble Spaced* 1” Margins1” Margins* MLA Heading on first page onlyMLA Heading on first page only* Pagination (Last Name Page #) in header, Pagination (Last Name Page #) in header,

aligned rightaligned right* Centered TitleCentered Title

* Creative Title* Not in quotation marks, underlined,

bolded, bigger or different font

MLA Heading Heading

NameName

TeacherTeacher

CourseCourse

DateDate

Joe Joe Smith

Mrs. Pigoni Mrs. Pigoni

American Literature - 1American Literature - 111 November 200811 November 2008

* Align Left

*Double Space

Sample Title PageSample Title PageDwyer 1

Barb Dwyer

Mrs. Pigoni - 1

Advanced Freshman English

4 April 2011

Building a Dream: Emily and Homer

Direct QuotesDirect Quotes

* Quoting any words (word for word) Quoting any words (word for word) that are not your ownthat are not your own

* Any part of a text can be directly Any part of a text can be directly quoted – not just a spoken quotationquoted – not just a spoken quotation

* Use Parenthetical CitationUse Parenthetical Citation* Direct quotes can NEVER stand aloneDirect quotes can NEVER stand alone

SummarizingSummarizing

* Take ideas from a large passage of Take ideas from a large passage of another source and condense them using another source and condense them using your own wordsyour own words

* Use Parenthetical CitationUse Parenthetical Citation

One chapter (23 pages) about Wheaton North High One chapter (23 pages) about Wheaton North High School’s extremely high test scores.School’s extremely high test scores.

Summarized Example:Summarized Example:

Wheaton North High School is one of the best schools in Wheaton North High School is one of the best schools in the state (Boyen 22).the state (Boyen 22).

Paraphrasing* Using the ideas from another source but changing Using the ideas from another source but changing

the phrasing into your own wordsthe phrasing into your own words* How To:How To:

Keep the source out of sight as you paraphrase, so you will Keep the source out of sight as you paraphrase, so you will not be tempted to use any of the sentence patterns or not be tempted to use any of the sentence patterns or phrases of the original.phrases of the original.

Do not substitute synonyms for some or most of the words in Do not substitute synonyms for some or most of the words in an author’s passage. This practice will result in plagiarism.an author’s passage. This practice will result in plagiarism.

Use your own sentence structure as well as your own words. Use your own sentence structure as well as your own words. Your writing will be regarded as plagiarized if it resembles Your writing will be regarded as plagiarized if it resembles the original too closely in sentence structure as well as in the original too closely in sentence structure as well as in wording.wording.

Check your text against the original source to avoid Check your text against the original source to avoid inadvertent plagiarism.inadvertent plagiarism.

Use parenthetical citationUse parenthetical citation

Quote WeavesQuote Weaves

3 PARTS3 PARTS* Signal Phrase/WeaveSignal Phrase/Weave

* Your own words setting up the quotationYour own words setting up the quotation

* QuoteQuote* Someone else’s words set off by Someone else’s words set off by

quotation marksquotation marks

* Parenthetical CitationParenthetical Citation* Source informationSource information

Signal Phrase/Weave – Signal Phrase/Weave – Complete ThoughtComplete Thought

* Punctuation is a colonPunctuation is a colon* Examples:Examples:

* He knew he was grounded when the cop He knew he was grounded when the cop knocked on the front door: “The tapping was a knocked on the front door: “The tapping was a commanding rap signaling the death of fun” commanding rap signaling the death of fun” (Jones 18).(Jones 18).

* The snow fell earlier than last year: “August is The snow fell earlier than last year: “August is too soon to sled” (Miller 33).too soon to sled” (Miller 33).

* Holden knew what he did had consequences, Holden knew what he did had consequences, and he was ready to face the music: “Looking and he was ready to face the music: “Looking through the window seeing all the boys fence through the window seeing all the boys fence left the feeling of abandonment” (“Catcher left the feeling of abandonment” (“Catcher loses”).loses”).

Signal Phrase/Weave – Signal Phrase/Weave – Incomplete ThoughtIncomplete Thought

* When blending your thoughts When blending your thoughts directly into the quotation, no directly into the quotation, no punctuation is needed.punctuation is needed.

Example:Example:

Romantic poetry is characterized Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of by the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263).263).

Signal Phrase – Speaker’s Signal Phrase – Speaker’s TagTag

* Punctuation is a comma* Use when separating the speaker from

what is being said* Introducing the speaker of the quote

Example:* When awakening from a nightmare, Carol

screamed, “Leave me alone!” (Phillips 6).* According to Stephanie Bower, “Kids like

to read” (Phillips 8).

Blocked QuotationsBlocked Quotations* 4 or more typed lines of text* Indent the entire quote 10 spaces (1 inch)

(Control + M)* Do NOT use quotation marks* Continue Double Spacing* Double space between the signal phrase and

the quotation* Cite the source after the end punctuation of the

quote

Blocked QuotationsBlocked QuotationsAt the conclusion of Lord of the Flies, Ralph and the

other boys realize the horror of their actions:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave

himself up to them now for the first time on the island;

great shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench

his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke

before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected

by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and

sob too. (Golding186)

EllipsesEllipses* Indicates the original passage has material Indicates the original passage has material

that has been omittedthat has been omitted* Ellipses are not necessary at the beginning or Ellipses are not necessary at the beginning or

end of a quotation when taken from a large end of a quotation when taken from a large passagepassage

* If you use ellipses at the end of your If you use ellipses at the end of your sentence, you use a 4sentence, you use a 4thth dot to illustrate dot to illustrate you have finished your sentence.you have finished your sentence.

* Example: Example: During English class I learned “Shakespeare was During English class I learned “Shakespeare was born in 1564 . . . . He died 1616” (Jones 46).born in 1564 . . . . He died 1616” (Jones 46).

BracketsBrackets* Use brackets when you are inserting Use brackets when you are inserting

material into sentences that are not material into sentences that are not originally in the sentence--in other words, originally in the sentence--in other words, not done by the original author.not done by the original author.Example:Example:While reading the newspaper “he [unexpectedly] While reading the newspaper “he [unexpectedly]

died of shock” (Kade 83).died of shock” (Kade 83). * Add brackets in sentences where you need Add brackets in sentences where you need

to clarify information.to clarify information.Example:Example:While reading the newspaper “he [Brian] died of While reading the newspaper “he [Brian] died of shock” (Kade 83).shock” (Kade 83).

Works CitedWorks Cited* A complete list of every source that you make reference to A complete list of every source that you make reference to

in your essayin your essay* Provides the information necessary for a reader to locate Provides the information necessary for a reader to locate

and retrieve any sources cited in your essayand retrieve any sources cited in your essay* Each entry includes this basic information:Each entry includes this basic information:

Author’s nameAuthor’s name Title of workTitle of work Publication information: source of work, date published, Publication information: source of work, date published,

volume and issue numbers, and page numbersvolume and issue numbers, and page numbers

Quick Tip:Quick Tip: All sources cited in the paper must be listed on the All sources cited in the paper must be listed on the Works Cited page. All sources listed on the Works Cited Works Cited page. All sources listed on the Works Cited page must have been cited in the paper itself.page must have been cited in the paper itself.

Works CitedWorks Cited* Center the words Works Cited at the top – no quotes, italics,

or underline* Pagination continues from your previous paper* Arrange sources alphabetically with the first letter of the

entry – Do NOT number your sources* Each Entry Begins with a Hanging Indent (Control + T)* Each Individual Entry Is Double Spaced

* Within the entry* Between entries* Do not put extra spaces in-between each entries

Sample Works Cited Sample Works Cited PagePage

Smith 12Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York: Penguin,

1985. Print.

Miller, J. Hillis. Charles Dickens: The World and His Novels.

Bloomington: U of Indiana P, 1958. Print.

“Squeezing the Poor for Votes.” New York Times on the Web. 18 February

2004. Web. 20 March 2004. <http://www.nytimes.com>.

Zwerdling, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 88 (May

1973): 429-439. Print.

Additional HelpAdditional Help

* Purdue Writing Center @ OWL @ OWL* Modern Language Association* Noodle Tools