Modern Language Association
Style Guide For Writers of
Research Papers
Created by: J.F.Good Elmwood Franklin
SchoolFall 2005
TopicsResearch Evaluating SourcesPlagiarismHow to cite each type of
sourceParenthetical CitationsThe BibliographyQuestions?
Research •Your sources should include:Books and EncyclopediasPeriodicals (magazines)
NewspapersScholarly Journals
Sound (CD) and Video(VHS/DVD) Recordings
Personal interviewsDatabases
Electronic (Internet) sources/graphics
Evaluating
Sources
When evaluating all of your sources ask yourself if it reflects:
• Authority• Accuracy• Currency
What are the author’s credentials? Is the information presented logically and
without bias? Are the author’s sources adequately
indicated so that they can be verified? Is the source current or outdated? Who is the publisher or sponsoring
organization of the work? Has the information been peer reviewed?
PlagiarismPlagiarism“…the false assumption of authorship: the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind, and presenting it as one’s own…: Alexander Lindey
To prevent plagiarism you must:Document everything that you borrow including:Direct quotationsParaphrasesGeneral informationFacts and ideasImages and graphics
A Working Bibliography or Works Cited List
Record ALL of the sources that you use in a separate document entitled Bibliography - even if you only glanced at them!
BOOK SOURCE1. Author’s last name, first name.2. Full title of book. Underlined.
3. Edition of book.4. Number of the volume and total number of volumes in the series for
encyclopedias.5. City of publication.6. Publisher’s name.
7. Date of publication.
Frome, Keith. What Not To Expect: A Meditation on the Spirituality of Parenting. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.
Magazine or Newspaper Source
1. Author’s last name, first name2. Title of the article in quotation marks3. Title of the magazine or newspaper
4. Date of publication5. Inclusive page numbers of article
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Be A Person of Character.” The Buffalo News,
September 30, 2005. p. A2.
Journal SourceJournal Source1. Author’s last name, first name
2. Title of article in quotation marks3. Title of journal underlined
4. Volume number5. Year of publication
6. Inclusive page numbers of the article
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol.
23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.
1. Author’s last name, first name 2. Title of article in quotation marks
3. Title of journal underlined4. Volume number
5. Year of publication6. Inclusive page numbers of the article
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol.
23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.
Sound and Video Sources
•Author’s last name, first name•Title of program underlined•Radio/television station call letters•Date of presentation•Website address if applicable
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” 60Minutes. Narr: Ed Bradley, CBS. October 23, 2005http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/
Interview SourceThere are three types of interviews:
Published or recorded on CD, cassette tape or videocassette
Broadcast on radio, television or online Personal interview conducted by researcher
Must include: Name of person being interviewedTitle of interview in quotation marksName of interviewerPlace of interviewDate of interviewFrome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” Interview with Katie
Couric. New York: The Today Show. MSNBC. October 21, 2005Frome, Dr. Keith W. Personal Interview. Buffalo, New York. October
14, 2005.
Internet Website Source
1. Author’s last name, first name2. Title of the document in quotation marks3. Title of scholarly project or database4. Name of editor5. Date of electronic publication or last update6. Name of the institution or organization sponsoring
the website7. Date when you accessed the source8. Network URL web addressFrome, Dr. Keith W. “Headmaster Messages.”
Headmaster’s Monthly Letter, 9/7/05. Elmwood Franklin School, October 2004. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/
Citing A Graphic From Internet Source
1. Title of site underlined2. Name of the editor of the site
(if given)3. Date of electronic publication
or latest update4. Name of sponsoring institution
or organization5. Date of access6. URL address
Elmwood Franklin School. 2004. 7 October 2005. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/
Parenthetical Citation
Acknowledges where in your paper you have used another’s words, facts or ideas using
parenthesis (brackets).
This information must match exactly the bibliographic or works cited record for your
research paper.
Includes:
1. Author’s last name
2. Page number
(Frome 93)
Bibliography
Must be alphabetized according to the author’s last name
Websites that do not have authors’ are arranged
alphabetically following author citations
BibliographyElmwood Franklin School. 2004. 7 October 2005. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/
Frome, Keith. What Not To Expect: A Meditation on the Spirituality of Parenting. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Be A Person of Character.” The Buffalo News, September 30, 2005. p. A2.
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” The Harvard Review, Vol. 23, 2005, pp. 103 - 108.
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” 60Minutes. Narr: Ed Bradley, CBS. October 23, 2005. www.cbsnews.com/60minutes/
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “What Not To Expect.” Interview with Katie Couric. New York: The Today Show. MSNBC. October 21, 2005
Frome, Dr. Keith W. Personal Interview. Buffalo, New York. October 14, 2005.
Frome, Dr. Keith W. “Headmaster Messages.” Headmaster’s Monthly Letter, 9/7/05. Elmwood Franklin School, October 2004. http://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/
Questions?Please refer to the MLA Handbook For Writers of Research Papers, 6th edition for further citation
details!
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