Parenthetical (In-Text) Citations

Parenthetical (In-Text) Citations in disgustingly gross detail.

WHAT IS MLA, ANYWAY? • Modern Language Association • A method of citing references in research papers and other academic writing • Parenthetical citations in text • Works Cited page

Reminder: • We use parenthetical citations to give credit to the people’s thoughts we use. • We give credit for: • direct quotes • paraphrasing • summarizing

Why do we need parenthetical citations? It is important to give credit to the sources you use. When you copy words and ideas that are not yours and use them without giving credit, it is called plagiarism.

Doesn’t the “Works Cited”page give credit? Yes, the Works Cited page at the end of your paper is important in giving credit to the sources you used. However,it doesn’t give your readerinformation on what exactly you used from each source or exactly where you found the material.

The general citation: • We see Scout admit that she lies to her father when she says, “I said I could like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances” (Lee 128).

Two things to note: • We see Scout admit that she lies to her father when she says, “I said I could like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances” (Lee 128). • The author’s name and page number appear without a “p” or comma • we know the number is a page • we don’t need a comma, either • Punctuation appears outside the quotation • there are certain circumstances that require punctuation inside the quotation…

You don’t have to cite the author when… • You mention the author in your introductory sentence for the quotation! • The older waiter in Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" asks himself, "What did he fear?" (79). • Do you see it?

Trickery: • Citing the author this way (in the sentence itself) accomplishes two things: • it cites the author (duh) • it varies your sentence structure automatically for you! • this = good writing

What about those pesky internet sources? • Cite the author, forget the page number • no pages in cyberspace • No author? Should you really use the site? • if no one takes credit for it, is it a credible site? • If you must, cite the website

Internet Example (Preferable) • If you MUST use one without an author, use the article title: • There is no truth to the rumor that al-Qaeda has poisoned the Coca-Cola supply in our country (“Coca-Cola No Al Queda”).

Internet example (no title?): • There is no truth to the rumor that al-Qaeda has poisoned the Coca-Cola supply in our country (snopes.com). • Also note that the good folks at “snopes.com” DO take credit for their work • Their names are Barbara and David Mickelson and they do a nice job fact-checking… • Note: • I did not give the complete URL, only a snippet • the complete URL goes in your reference page

But again, • Try to use as few unaccredited web pages as humanly possible • Sourcevalidity is a huge concern when the source takes no credit for their work

Multiple authors: • If more than one author wrote your article, they need to be cited. • This applies to less than three authors • less than / including three, cite them all!

Multiple authors example: • There has been a drastic increase in frivolous lawsuits in the United States in the last ten years (Dewey, Cheatum and Howe 45). Note all authors credited with last name only.

More than three authors? • Bust out the Latin stick! • “et al” is your pal! • “et al” literally translates to “and others” • Cite the first author, then slap an “et al” after it! • only applies to references with more than three authors!

Finally, the interview sources: • Cite the last name of the interviewee • Then that it was an interview

Interview example: • As Freshmen students, we were told that this paper is “dummy proof and it’s impossible to do wrong if you try” (Glover interview). • Note the same rules apply: • no comma • punctuation outside of the parentheses

Setting Up Your Paper • Formatting the First Page • A paper using MLA format should not have a separate title page. Instead, in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list: • your name • instructors name • Course • Date • Your heading should be followed by a centered title (all double spaced). Do not italicize, underline, boldface or use caps lock on your title.

First Page, Example:

The Works Cited Page(grand finale) *A works cited page is a requirement for any paper containing information from another source. All entries within the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in the text of your paper. • Basic Rules • The Works Cited page must be on a separate sheet of paper, removed from the body of your essay • Continue the same one-inch margin and header as the rest of your paper • Title the page Works Cited (do not italicize or place in quotation marks) and make sure the title is centered

Works Cited, cont… • Double space all citations; however, do not skip spaces between citation entries • Indent the second (and all subsequent) lines of the entry (1/2 inch or 5 spaces) • The works cited page must be alphabetized by the first word of the citation entry

Works Cited, Example:

Parenthetical (In-Text) Citations