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MLA Documentation Style

Adapted from:

Writing Resources Centerhttp://wrc.uncc.edu/
http://wrc.uncc.edu/http://wrc.uncc.edu/


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Integrating Sources &

Avoiding Plagiarism

Writers need to understand current definitions of

plagiarism, which have changed over time, and which

differ from culture to culture.

Adapted from:

Lunsford, Andrea. The Everyday Writer. 3rd ed. Boston, MA:

Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. Print.


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What is Plagiarism?

In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a

writer deliberately uses someone elses language, ideas, or

other original (not common-knowledge) material without

acknowledging its source.

This definition applies to texts published in print or

online, to manuscripts, and to the work of other students.
http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9


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Plagiarism Is a Cultural Concept

Many cultures do not recognize Western notions ofplagiarism, which rest on the belief that language andideas can be owned by writers.

In many countries other than the U.S., using the wordsand ideas of others without attribution is considered a signof respect as well as an indication of knowledge.


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What is NOT Plagiarism?

Most current discussions of plagiarism fail to distinguish

betweenplagiarismand misuse of sources.

A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify andcredit his or her source, but who misuses a specific

citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or

other forms of identifying material taken from other

sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, the student has

failed to cite and document sources appropriately.
http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9


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Materials That Require

Acknowledgement

Quotations, paraphrases, summaries

Facts not widely known or claims that are arguable

Help provided by others


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Quoting, Paraphrasing, and

Summarizing Quoting: You present the ideas and the wording of

a source, unchanged from the original (placedwithin quotation marks and cited)

Paraphrasing: You present the ideas of a source

unchanged, but you express them in your ownwriting style (doesnt need quotation marks, butstill should be cited)

Summarizing: You present the important ideas of a

source in briefer form and in your own writingstyle (doesnt need quotation marks, but stillshould be cited)


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Materials That Do NOT Require

Acknowledgement

In academic writing in the U.S., you should credit all

materials except:

Common knowledge

Ideas available in a wide variety of sources

Your own findings from primary or field research


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Understand Reasons to Credit Sources

Show that you are a knowledgeable and credibleresearcher.

Demonstrate fairnessthat you have considered multiplepoints of view.

Provide background for your research by placing it in thecontext of the work of others.

Help readers follow your thoughts and understand howyour ideas relate to those of others.

Point readers where to go to find more information onyour subject.


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IN-TEXT

CITATIONS


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Writing Resources Center 11

Sample In-text Citations

Basic Format for an in-text citation:

(Authors last name page number).

After a Direct Quotation:

In the debate over toothpaste brands, Nine out of ten

doctors choose Crest (Mills 106).

After a Paraphrase:

In arguments regarding brands of toothpaste, a majority

of doctors picked Crest (Mills 106).


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Sample In-Text Citations

When using sources in your paper, you may refer

to the author in the beginning of the sentence

setting up a quote, paraphrase or summary. In this

case you only need to cite the page number:

In the debate over toothpaste brands, Mills says

Nine out of ten doctors choose Crest (106).


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Sample In-text Citations

Quotations more than 4 lines are indented 1 inchwith no quotation marks and double-spaced. Thepunctuation comes before the citation.

A recent study found the following:The placebo effect, which had been verified inprevious studies, disappeared when behaviors werestudied in this manner. Furthermore, the behaviors

were never exhibited again, even when real drugs

were administered. Earlier studies were clearlypremature in attributing the results to a placeboeffect. (Miele 276)


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In-text Citations: Special Cases

If the source has no known author, then use an

abbreviated version of the title

Full title: California Cigarette Tax Deters SmokersCitation: (California 56)


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Internet Sources

Direct Quotations: Use the original sources languageverbatim (word for word) and include quotation marks as well

as an in-text citation.

Print source:

A traffic ticket is a public document because it is: (a) a document issued by apublic employee during the conduct of public business, (b) a record stored in agovernment database, and (c) an exhibit in a legal proceeding (Harrington 7).

Internet source:

A traffic ticket is a public document because it is: (a) a document issued by a

public employee during the conduct of public business, (b) a record stored in agovernment database, and (c) an exhibit in a legal proceeding (Harringtonpar. 3).

Note that a page or paragraph number appears in the citation.


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QUOTING,PARAPHRASING,

ANDSUMMARIZING

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Proportion: Using Quotations Sparingly

Novice writers may be tempted to over-quote. Over-quoting tends to weaken an argument:

The essay will tend to ramble and consequently will lack focus

The author may inadvertently reveal a very unpersuasive lack of

self-confidence

Quote only those parts of others writing that relate to yourclaim.

Quote only when necessary for establishing authority,making a clarification, providing context, pinpointing a

controversy, creating a dramatic effect, or showcasingeloquence.

Use paraphrasing and summarizing whenever possible.


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Avoiding Misuse of Sources

Frequently, students unintentionally misuse sources when

they attempt toparaphrase: to rephrase someone elses

ideas into your own words and sentence patterns.


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Paraphrasing

Samples to Review:

Original Sentence: The number of studentsentering UNC Charlotte has grown during the last

30 years. Author John White Page: 33

Paraphrased Sentence in MLA citation style:

Over the past three decades, UNC Charlotteexperienced increased student enrollment (White33).


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Paraphrasing

The rise of industry, the growth of cities, and the expansion of the

population were the three great developments of late nineteenth century

American history. As new, larger, steam-powered factories became a

feature of the American landscape in the East, they transformed farm

hands into industrial laborers, and provided jobs for a rising tide ofimmigrants. With industry came urbanization, the growth of large cities

(like Fall River, Massachusetts, where the Bordens lived), which became

the centers of production as well as of commerce and trade.

Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie

Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s. Bloomington,

IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.
http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/plagiarism/index.htmlhttp://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/plagiarism/index.html


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An Unacceptable Paraphrase Is

Too Close to the Original

The increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the explosion of the

population were three large factors of nineteenth century America. As

steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the

country, they changed farm hands into factory workers and provided jobs

for the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the growth of large

cities like Fall River where the Bordens lived, which turned into centers of

commerce and tradeas well as production.


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Acceptable Paraphrase

According to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where the

Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the

Nineteenth century. Steam-powered production had shifted labor from

agriculture to manufacturing, and as immigrants arrived in the U.S., they

found work in these new factories. As a result, populations grew, and largeurban areas arose. Fall River was one of these manufacturing and

commercial centers (200).

Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. LizzieBorden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s. Bloomington,IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.


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What Makes a Good Paraphrase?

Uses your own words and sentence patterns

Demonstrates your inferential thought processes

Rather than being merely a faithful reproduction of the

ideas in source text, an effective paraphrase is one that

expresses your perspective.

Includes a citation.


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Acceptable Paraphrase with Quotation

According to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where the

Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the

nineteenth century. As labor shifted from agriculture to manufacturing, the

demand for workers transformed farm hands into factory workers, and

created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populations increased thesize of urban areas. Fall River was one of these manufacturing hubs that

were also centers of commerce and trade (200).

Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. LizzieBorden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s. Bloomington,IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.


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Paraphrasing Accurately

Include all main points, in the order of the original.

State the authors meaning in your own words and sentence

structures.

If you use language from the original, enclose in quotation

marks.

Include an in-text citation.

Provide a complete citation in your Works Cited.


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INCORPORATINGOUTSIDE

MATERIAL


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Incorporating Outside Material

When incorporating outside material, the Framing

techniquecan situate outside material into your

text clearly:

Introduce the material. Give the quote or paraphrase.

Explain (or respond to) the material and how itrelates to, or proves, the point you are making.


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Paraphrasing

Incorporating paraphrasing into your paragraphs: Paraphrased sentence: Over the past three decades, UNC

Charlotte experienced increased student enrollment (Smith33).

Your paragraph:

Because I am new to the area, I decided to learn aboutUNC Charlottes past. I interviewed John Smith, aCharlotte historian about the schools history. Through this

interview, I found out that over the past three decades,UNC Charlotte experienced increased student enrollment(Smith 33). This news was interesting because I did notknow that our school grew so much over the past 30 years.


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Paraphrasing Practice

Synopsis: You are writing a paper for English

arguing that everyone on campus should get a flushot. Below is a direct quote from one of MissEakers students from your interview.

Original Material: Miss Eakers class was

canceled last Friday because she came down withthe flu.

Student: Jennifer Pooler

1) Paraphrase Sentence2) Use the Framing Technique to incorporate your

paraphrase into a paragraph.


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MLA Documentation Resources

UNCC Writing Resources Center (WRC)

Purdue U. Online Writing Lab (OWL)

UNCC Atkins Library
http://www.uncc.edu/writing/link.htmlhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/http://library.uncc.edu/display/?dept=reference&format=open&page=1125http://library.uncc.edu/display/?dept=reference&format=open&page=1125http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/http://www.uncc.edu/writing/link.html


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Writing Resources Center (WRC)

Locations:

220 Fretwell

109 Atkins Library

Phone:

704-687-HELP (4357)

E-mail:

[email protected]

Web:http://wrc.uncc.edu/

Appointments:

http://rich65.com/uncc/

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mailto:[email protected]://wrc.uncc.edu/http://rich65.com/uncc/http://rich65.com/uncc/http://wrc.uncc.edu/mailto:[email protected]