MLA Style
Why we use it…
How we use it…
What is MLA???
MLA stands for
Modern
Language
Association
MODERN LANGUAGE
“Notice how the youngsters
are talking these days:
„The music video was
hella tight.”
This, oddly enough, does
not mean the musicians
were wearing tight
pants…”
Association
WE ARE A GROUP!
WE LOVE MODERN
LANGUAGE!!
What is MLA???
The Modern Language Association is a
group of scholars who study the
development of language as it is today,
and as it has evolved over time…
So what does this have to do with
me???
Why do we need it?
Is this just another useless
set of rules I need to
memorize??
Why do we need it?
No! MLA is something
you‟ll need to know
sophomore year, junior
year, senior year, when
you‟re in college…
Why do we need it?
The Modern Language
Association has created
a group of rules to make
sure that all writers
use the same format to
communicate their
ideas.
Why do we need it?
“In high school, you will mostly
use it to CITE your sources…”
Why do we need it?
Do you mean, like
UFO sightings???
Why do we need it?
“No, not “sight,” you silly.
But “cite” with a C of course,
you crazy child!
To “cite a source” means to tell
where an idea, quotation, or
opinion came from…”
Citing Sources
Let‟s say you‟re writing a paper about the
book you just read. You might write,
The opening like of the books states, “The
dog was lying on the grass in the middle of
the lawn in front of the house. It looked as
if it was running on its side, the way dogs
run when they think they are chasing a cat
in a dream. But the dog was not running or
asleep. The dog was dead” (1).
Here is the citation!!!
Citing Sources
Well, that doesn‟t
seem too hard.
Why am I holding
my hand to my
ear, when I‟m not
listening to you???
Citing Sources
I don‟t know.
Why do I look
like I‟m talking on
the phone when
I‟m not?
Weird.
Anyway…
There are
three rules
The Rules
you want to
remember…
The Rules
How many? I couldn‟t
hear you!
(Ah! That‟s why my
hand is near my ear. I
get it.)
The Rules
The Rules
1- In-text Citations:
The period goes AFTER the page number.
2 – No “page” or “pp” before the page number
3 – Quotations longer than three lines when
you type them are separated and indented
Rule #1: In-Text Citations
An In-text citation is a quotation or piece
of evidence in the middle of your own
writing…
Your text your text your text your text
quotation quotation quotation
quotation your text your text your text
your text your text
Rule #1: In-text Citations
The opening like of the books states, “The dog was lying on the grass in the
middle of the lawn in front of the house. It looked as if it was running on its
side, the way dogs run when they think they are chasing a cat in a dream.
But the dog was not running or asleep. The dog was dead” (1). This
opening sentence creates a dramatic tension in the first lines of the novel.
I put the period
When a quotation is in the middle of
my own writing, how do I tell my after the page
reader that I‟m completely done giving number so my
them information about the quotation? reader knows
everything before
the period it has
to do with the
quotation.
Rule #1: In-text citations
The example from before is an “in-text citation” because
it is in the middle of my text, or my own writing:
My words “The dog
The opening like of the books states,
was lying on the grass in the middle
of the lawn in front of the house. It
The quotation
looked as if it was running on its
– someone side, the way dogs run when they
else‟s words think they are chasing a cat in a
and ideas
dream. But the dog was not running
or asleep. The dog was dead” (1).
This opening sentence creates a dramatic tension in
My words the first lines of the novel.
Rule #2: No “page” or “pp”
Check it out!!
The opening like of the books states, “The dog was lying on
the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of the house. It looked as if
it was running on its side, the way dogs run when they think they are
chasing a cat in a dream. But the dog was not running or asleep. The
dog was dead” (1). This opening sentence creates a dramatic tension
in the first lines of the novel.
Well, that one
is easy…
Rule #3: Long Quotations
In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses foreshadowing to highlight the
fine line between playful and harmful human behavior. Early in the book, the boys
are exploring the island in search of the Beast and happen upon a group of large
boulders on top of a large rock. “They forgot the beast in the excitement of
exploration. […] A knot of boys, making a great noise that [Ralph] had not noticed
were heaving and pushing at a rock. As [Ralph] turned, the base cracked and the
whole mass toppled into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leapt half-way
up the cliff” (99). This quotation shows…
WAIT!
That quotation is so long…
Rule #3: Long Quotations
In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses foreshadowing to highlight the
fine line between playful and harmful human behavior. Early in the book, the boys
are exploring the island in search of the Beast and happen upon a group of large
boulders on top of a large rock. “They forgot the beast in the excitement of
exploration. […] A knot of boys, making a great noise that [Ralph] had not noticed
were heaving and pushing at a rock. As [Ralph] turned, the base cracked and the
whole mass toppled into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leapt half-way
up the cliff” (99). This quotation shows… Once!
Twice!
Three times!
Notice: It is more than 3 lines long
when I type it out so I need to…
Rule #2: Long Quotations
In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses foreshadowing to highlight the
fine line between playful and harmful human behavior. Early in the book, the boys
are exploring the island in search of the Beast and happen upon a group of large
boulders on top of a large rock.
They forgot the beast in the excitement of exploration. […] A knot of boys,
making a great noise that [Ralph] had not noticed were heaving and pushing
Notice the at a rock. As [Ralph] turned, the base cracked and the whole mass toppled
indentation into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leapt half-way up the
cliff. (99)
This quotation shows… Notice there are no quotation
marks!
Why? Because we use quotation
marks to tell the readers, Hey! I’m a
Wait! This is different! quotation!
Notice the period is But when you indent it, you’re
before the parenthesis telling your reader that same
thing… so you don’t need the
quotation marks in addition.
The Rules
WAIT a MINUTE!
So there are 3 rules
for MLA citations, and
there are 3 things to
remember about
citing quotations that
are longer Yup!
than 3 lines?
MLA Citation Rules
1) In-text Citations: The period goes AFTER the page
number.
2) No “page” or “pp” before the page number
3) Quotations longer than three lines when you type them
are separated and indented
a) Indent one tab
b) Place the period before the parenthesis
c) Remove the quotation marks