The following links will be helpful for formatting your work.

  Guide for Writing Research Papers and, especially, the English faculty's Suggestions for Writing Papers for Literature Courses for further help in handling quotations.

  Guide to Writing Research Papers

 

Guide to Grammar and Writing

Types of Resources

Books Newsbank
Essay or Article in a Collection or Anthology Radio, Television Broadcasts
Government Documents Interviews
Encyclopedia Articles Audio-Visual Materials
Artworks Dissertations
Lectures Reviews
Songs, lyrics Pamphlets, brochures
Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers Electronic, On-Line Resources, CD-ROM
Article/Dissertation Abstracts Sacred Texts
Information Services (ERIC) Legal Documents
Reference Books Edited Book or Translation
Editorials  

Preparing a "Works Cited" Section

 

Once you have found the sources you intend to use, you will need to identify them for your reader. For each BOOK you use, write a separate listing (on an index card or in some handy format available in your laptop computer or your notebook -- whatever is convenient and cannot be lost), giving:
  1. the name of the author or authors;
  2. title;
  3. editor, translator, compiler, if any;
  4. edition, if it is not the first (i.e., 2nd ed., rev. ed.);
  5. place and date of the book's publication; and
  6. the name of the book's publisher.
You might also note on this listing how this source was (or could be) particularly helpful in your research.
For example:
Mumford, Lewis. The Highway and the City. New York: Harcourt Brace and World, 1963.

Pikarsky, M. and Christensen, D. Urban Transportation Policy and Management. Boston: D.C. Heath, 1976.

Write a separate listing for each article from a magazine or journal. Include
  1. the name(s) of the author(s);
  2. the title of the article;
  3. the title of the periodical;
  4. the date of the issue in which the article appears;
  5. and the pages on which the article you are referring to appears.
For example:
Prin, Dinah. "Marriage in the '90s." New York 2 June 1990: 40-45.

 

Sample page of Works Cited

Anderson, J. "Keats in Harlem." New Republic 204.14 (8 Apr. 1991):

      n. pag. Online. EBSCO. 29 Dec. 1996.

Angier, Natalie. "Chemists Learn Why Vegetables are Good for You." New

       York Times 13 Apr. 1993, late ed.: C1. New York Times Ondisc. CD-ROM.

      UMI-Proquest. Oct. 1993.

Anzaldua, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. San Francisco:

      Spinsters/ Aunt Lute, 1987.

Astin, Alexander W. Achieving Educational Excellence. Washington:

      Jossey-Bass, 1985.

Burka, Lauren P. "A Hypertext History of Multi-User Dimensions." MUD History.

      URL: http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/lpb/mud-history.html (5 Dec. 1994).

Christie, John S. "Fathers and Virgins: Garcia Marquez's Faulknerian Chronicle

      of a Death Foretold." Latin American Literary Review 13.3 (Fall 1993): 21-29.

Creation vs. Evolution: "Battle of the Classroom." Videocassette. Dir. Ryall

      Wilson, PBS Video, 1982. (MLA) 58 min.

Darling, Charles. "The Decadence: The 1890s." Humanities Division Lecture Series.

      Capital Community-Technical College, Hartford. 12 Sept. 1996.

Feinberg, Joe. "Freedom and Behavior Control." Encyclopedia of Bio-ethics,

      I, 93-101. (MLA) New York: Free Press, 1992.

Hennessy, Margot C. "Listening to the Secret Mother: Reading J.E. Wideman's

      Brothers and Keepers." American Women's Autobiography: Fea(s)ts

      of Memory. Ed. Margo Culley. Madison, WI: U. Wisconsin Press, 1992.

      302-314.

Jones, V.S., M.E. Eakle, and C.W. Foerster. A History of Newspapers. Cambridge,

      Eng.: Cambridge UP, 1987.

Metheny, N.M., and W. D. Snively. Nurses' Handbook of Fluid Balance.

      Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1967.

"Money." Compton's Precyclopedia. 1977 ed., X, 80-91.

Mumford, Lewis. The Highway and the City. New York: Harcourt Brace

      and World, 1963.

- - -. Highways Around the World. New York: Prentice, 1967.

Orchestra. CD-ROM. Burbank: Warner New Media. 1992.

Pepin, Ronald E. Literature of Satire in the Twelfth Century. Lewiston:

      Edwin Mellen Press, 1988.

Pikarsky, M. and Christensen, D. Urban Transportation Policy and

      Management. Boston: D.C. Heath, 1976.

"The Political Problems of Arms-Treaty Verification." Technology Review

      May/June 1986: 34-47.

Redford, Robert. Personal Interview. 24 Sept. 1996.

Schneider, Pamela. Interview. Seniors: What Keeps Us Going. With Linda

      Storrow. Natl. Public Radio. WNYC. New York. 11 July 1988.

Seabrook, Richard H. C. "Community and Progress." cybermind@jefferson.village.

      virginia.edu (22 Jan. 1994).

Shaw, Webb. "Professionals are Required to Report Abuse." Akron (Ohio)

      Beacon Journal, Nov. 11, 1984 (Located in NewsBank [Microform].

      Welfare and Social Problems, 1984, 51: D12-14, fiche).

Sixty Minutes. CBS. WFSB, Hartford. 3 May 1991.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce. U.S. Industrial Outlook. Washington, D.C.,

      Government Printing Office, 1990.

"U.S. troops capture chief aide to warlord." The Hartford Courant 22 Sept.

      1993: A5.

"What's a Hoatzin?" Newsweek 27 Sept. 1993: 72.

Williams, Larry. "Powerful Urban Drama Builds in Bell's Tense 'Ten Indians'."

      Rev. of Ten Indians, by Madison Smartt Bell. Hartford Courant

      1 Dec. 1996: G3.

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Bibliothèque Frost Library      symbols Home/accueil

Writing Style Manuals/Research
Manuels de Rédaction/Recherche

MLA Bibliographic Citation Guide

When doing research, you must use a standard citation format to identify the information you have used and give credit to its creator. Consistency is crucial.

Each work is usually identified by three key elements: author's name - title or source - publication information. The title should be either underlined or italicized. A period and two spaces follow each element. Additional elements such as number of volumes or edition numbers might be required.

 

The first line of each citation starts at the left margin; the second and any succeeding lines are indented five spaces. Each source is listed separately and is arranged alphabetically by the author's last name (use the title if there is no author).

Below you will find the correct citation form for a variety of materials:

Books | Reference sources | Periodical articles | Full-Text Articles from Electronic Databases | Pamphlets | Government publications | Audiovisual materials | World Wide Web Resources

NOTE: Refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook and/or the MLA Web Page for additional information and examples:

  

Gibaldi, Joseph.  MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed.  
        New York: Modern Language Association, 1999.

"Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web."  MLA Style. 1998. 
        Modern Language Association. 30 Sep. 1999  <http://www.mla.org/set_stl.htm>.

BOOKS

By a single author:

 
Lemann, Nicholas.  The Promised Land, the Great Black 
    Migration and How It Changed America.  New York: Knopf, 1991.

 

Two authors:

Gibaldi, Joseph, and Walter S. Achtert. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 3rd ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 1988.

Three authors:

Venolia, Jean P., Georgio Cordini, and Joseph Hitchcock. What Makes a Literary Masterpiece. Chicago: Hudson, 1995.

More than three authors:

Bailyn, Bernard, et al. The Great Republic. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath, 1977.

Unknown author:

 
The Bible, a New Translation.  Trans. James Moffatt.  New York: 
        Harper and Row, 1954.

Multi-volume Work:

 
Dorival, Bernard.  Twentieth Century Painters.  2 vols.  New York: 
        Universe Books, 1958.

Collection produced by an editor:

 
Guernsey, Otis L., Jr., and Jeffrey Sweet, eds. The Burns Mantle 
    Theater Yearbook of 1989-90.  New York: Applause, 1990.

One essay or article from an anthology or a collection:

 

 
Margulies, Donald.  "The Loman Family Picnic, a Play in Two Acts."  
        The Burns Mantle Theater Yearbook of 1989-90.  New York: Applause, 
        1990. 131-50.

REFERENCE SOURCES

A simplified citation is commonly used for general encyclopedias. Include publication information for subject encyclopedias. Include volume or page number(s) only if the articles are not in alphabetical order.

Article in a general encyclopedia:

Trainen, Martha. "New York State." Encyclopedia Americana. 1992.
Article in a subject encyclopedia: 
Hammond, William H. "Media and the War." 
        Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. New York: Macmillan 
        Library Reference, 1996.

Article from a multi-volume work not in alphabetical order:

Tusse, Johannes. "Education in Ethiopia." Encyclopedia of East Africa. Vol. 2. Nairobi: Kenya Press, 1992. 565-72. 3 vols.
An entire reference work:

Niiya, Brian, ed. Japanese American History: An A to Z Reference from 1868 to the Present. New York: Facts On File, 1993.

PERIODICAL ARTICLES

Each periodical entry must include author’s name (when shown), title of article, periodical name and page numbers. Journal citations should also include the volume and issue number, and the publication year. For magazine and newspaper citations, omit the volume and issue number and include the complete date. For articles from electronic sources, see Full-Text Articles below.

Journal articles: 
Wernerfelt, Birgner.  "Advertising Content When Brand Choice 
        Is a Signal."  Journal of Business  63.1 (1990): 91-98.
Articles in weekly publications: 
Ryback, Timothy W.  "Letter from Salzburg."  New Yorker  
        30 Dec. 1991: 62-75.
Articles in monthly publications: 
Alford, Jeffrey.  "Ap Nam? Kin Khao? Feeling at Home 
        in Thai Kitchens."  Eating Well  Jan. - Feb. 1992: 44-55.
Newspaper Articles: 
Miller, David. "Tightening the Belt."  Seattle Times  
        5 Jan. 1992: A1.
Anonymous Articles: 
"Saddam's Republican Guards."  Time  4 Feb. 1991: 24.
Editorials: 
Schmemann, Serge.  "The World According to Gorbachev Disappears."  
        Editorial.  New York Times  8 Dec. 1991: E3.

FULL-TEXT ARTICLES FROM ELECTRONIC DATABASES

A citation for an article from a Full-text Periodical database starts off much like any periodical citation, except for some changes with the punctuation and underlining. Add the format of the database (i.e., CD-ROM) and the publisher and publication date of the database. For articles that do not have URLs, cite the main page for the database and include the library through which you gained access.

For other Full-text databases, include the author (if applicable), name of the piece, name of the database, format of the database, and the publisher and publication date of the database.
Periodical Database accessed on the WWW: 
Keegan, John,  and Tom Wolfe. "Who Should be Person of 
        the Century?" Time 30 August 1999: 15+ ProQuest Direct. 
        Bell & Howell Learning and Information. Seattle Central Community 
        College Lib. 25 Sep. 1999. <http://www.umi.com/pdqauto>.
Periodical Database accessed on the WWW: 
Montana, Cate.  "Media vs. Makah Forged Unity, Spiritual 
        Awareness."  Indian Country Today  1 Apr. 1999: D1.  Ethnic 
    NewsWatch.  SoftLine Information, Inc. Seattle Central 
        Community College Lib., 1 Oct. 1999.  
        <http://www.softlineweb.com/softlineweb/ethnic.htm>.
Non-Periodical Database: 
"Walker, Alice (Malsenior) 1944-."  Contemporary Authors. 
        Gale Research Inc. Seattle Central Community College Lib. 
        1 Oct. 1999. <http://galenet.gale.com>.
CD-ROM Database: 
Murakami, Kery.  "Espresso Goes East."  Seattle Times 11 July 1993: D1.  
        Seattle Times on CD-ROM.  CD-ROM.  Newsbank, Inc. Dec. 1993.

PAMPHLETS

Treat a pamphlet as you would a book: 
Outsmarting Crime: A Guide to Safer Living.  n.p.: Washington 
        State Criminal Justice Training Commission, 1990.

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

If no individual author is shown, give the governmental body (e.g., Washington State, City of Seattle), followed by the agency name, and the usual publication information (title, place, publisher and date). For most federal publications, the publisher will be the Government Printing Office, which can be abbreviated ‘GPO.’

 
Issued by a state agency: 
Washington State.  Washington State University, Pullman 
        Cooperative Extension.  Raising Rabbits, Helpful Suggestions for 
    Beginners.  Extension Bulletin 0975.  Pullman: WSU, 1991.
Federal Publication: 
United States.  Commerce Dept.  An Act to Provide the Small 
    Business Administration Continuing Authority to Administer a Program 
    for Small Innovative Firms, and for Other Purposes.  Washington: 
        GPO, 1986.

AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

In general, citations for AV materials must include author (if available), title, producing company and date. Other elements vary depending on the type of material, so refer to the MLA Handbook. For music, if you are using a format other than compact disc (CD), indicate as shown in the examples below.

 
Videos: 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dir. Denise Guyen.  Videocassette.  
        SVE Inc., 1988.
Television or Radio Program: 
"Cuba and Cocaine."  Narr. Bill Moyers.  Frontline.  Documentary 
        Consortium.  PBS.  WTVS, Miami.  18 Jan. 1990.
Music Recordings (no composer shown): 
Lewiston, David.  Fiestas of Peru: Music of the High Andes.  
        LP.  Nonesuch Records, 1972.
Composer and performer different: 
Guthrie, Woody.  Pete Seeger Sings Woody Guthrie.  Perf. 
        Pete Seeger.  Audiocassette.  Folkways, 1968.

WORLD WIDE WEB RESOURCES

Citations for a World Wide Web site should include author (if known), title of the piece (if applicable), underlined title of the complete work, date of electronic publication or the latest update, organization sponsoring the site (if applicable), date you accessed the document, and the complete URL. See Full-Text Articles for citing articles from WWW Periodical Databases, such as ProQuest or SIRS.
World Wide Web Site: 
Romance Languages and Literature.  1 Jan. 1997. Dept. 
        of Romance Langs and Lits., U of Chicago.  30 June 1998 
        <http://humanities.uchicago.edu/romance/>.
Online Posting to an email discussion list: 
Straughn, Victoria. "Women's History in the High School." 
        Online posting. 30 Sep. 1998. Forum on Women's History. 1 Oct. 1999. 
        <http://ashp.listserv.cuny.edu/scriptsashp/womenshistoryforum.html>.
Personal Web Page: 
Tice-Deering, Beverly. English as a Second Language.  15 Sept. 
        1999 < http://www.sccd.ctc.edu/~ticedeer/>.
Electronic Journals: 
Flannagan, Roy.  "Reflections on Milton and Ariosto."  Early
    Modern Literary Studies  2.3 (1996): 16 pars.  22 Feb. 1997  
        <http://unixg.ubc.ca:7001/0/e-sources/emls/02-3/flanmilt.html>.

 

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