Instructions
Documentation systems are used in all academic and scholarly writing. It is through documentation that a writer or researcher shows that they are familiar with the most relevant material about the topic of their writing. It is the way that a writer shows that their discussion is informed, thoughtful, and reliable.
You may already know that different fields use different documentation systems. In fact, there are over 20 documentation systems in use today. But do not despair! The majority of these are very specialized. As a student in an undergraduate program, you will need to be most familiar with only two of these systems. One of them, the Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation style is commonly used in the humanities (literature, art, history, and so on). The other one, the American Psychological Association (APA) style is used in the sciences and social sciences at the undergraduate level.
This unit focuses on MLA documentation because you are writing an analysis of a novel, a paper in the humanities. In the next unit, you will be using APA to document your second essay in the course.
For now, let us focus on MLA.
Like all documentation systems, MLA has two components:
In-text (or parenthetical) citations that appear in the body of your text
A Works Cited page which is the last page of the paper and provides a list of sources with pertinent bibliographic information
In-text citations always refer to a source that is listed in the works cited page.
The following links provide information on how to properly cite in MLA:
1. This helpful video provides information on how to think about and write Works Cited entries:
Understanding MLA Style (8th edition, 2016 updates)
Duration: 11:21
User: n/a – Added: 6/3/16
2. This short video provides information on parenthetical or in-text citations:
MLA Style: In-Text Citations (8th Ed., 2016)
Duration: 3:27
User: n/a – Added: 1/25/19
3. This video provides information about all aspects of MLA citation:
MLA 8th Edition Online Workshop
Duration: 18:58
User: n/a – Added: 8/18/16
4. Here is a full set of guidelines on how to cite in-text from the Purdue Online Writing Lab or OWL:
MLA In-Text Citations: The BasicsLinks to an external site.
5. Here is a full set of guidelines for creating the works cited page from the Purdue OWL:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html
MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)Links to an external site.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
MDC ONLINE – ENC1102
Works Cited Page for Literary Analysis on Sula in MLA (Dropbox)
Before you submit your assignment to this drop box, be sure to study and use the information in Module 1, Lesson 3 titled “Using MLA Style.”
Directions
Submit your Works Cited page for your Literary Analysis Essay on Sula in MLA here. Be sure to submit it as an attachment so that the formatting is retained.
Here are some guidelines to remember:
Your Works Cited page should have a minimum of three entries:
one for the novel
two from articles connected to your discussion (at least one of those articles should come from the MDC databases; both can come from the databases).
Formatting for Works Cited:
Center the words Works Cited one inch from the top of the page.
Double-space within and between entries–no extra spaces between entries.
Every line after the first for each source is indented.
Sources are listed in alphabetical order.
You can use one of the citation builders to create the entry: Easy Bib, Citation Machine, or any other that you find reliable and helpful. Remember that these don’t always provide you with the correct spacing and indentation, and you may have to tweak those in your paper. Also, check that the entry looks like works cited entry should for the type of document you are citing—whether a journal article, an interview, a magazine article, a chapter from a book, etc.
Email your professor with questions. You want to get this right so that no points are lost to formatting errors.
Your Works Cited page will be graded according to the following criteria:
Centered Works Cited heading: 10 points
Alphabetical listing of sources: 10 points
Correct spacing and indentation: 20 points
Correct information for each entry: 30 points
At least 3 sources: 30 points
the novel at least one database article and another article (from the database or not)
(Please note that you can list more than 3 sources—three is the minimum and must include each of the above)
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CHAT WITH ME, I CAN HELP
