Poems and Speakers
goodisnaks
BriefMLAReviewENC1102PoetryEssay-5.pptxMLA Review for the Poetry Essay
Common Knowledge
In-text Citations
Parenthetical References
Works Cited Entries
Information Requiring No In-Text Citations, Parenthetical References, or Works Cited Entries
Common Knowledge
Literary Common Knowledge
It does not require in-text citations, parenthetical references, or works cited entries. Writers must use their own words with common knowledge; they cannot copy it verbatim from the original source.
It refers to general information that most individuals already know or can verify in several common reference works (an encyclopedia such as the Encyclopedia Britannica or a credible online biography of Andrew Marvell).
It generally takes the form of widely known and undisputed geographic, historical, and literary facts.
Some Illustrations of Literary Common Knowledge
Poet Andrew Marvell was born in Winestead, England, on March 31, 1621; he died in London on August 16, 1678.
Andrew Marvell attended the University of Cambridge.
The poem “To His Coy Mistress” was published posthumously three years after Marvell’s death in 1678.
Many literary scholars consider “To His Coy Mistress” both a seduction and a carpe diem poem.
Information Requiring Citations
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA Parenthetical References
MLA Works Cited Entries
MLA In-Text Citations
A sentence with borrowed information, such as a definition, quotation, statistic, etc., requires a citation.
With an in-text citation, an author's last name or a name of an article appears somewhere in the sentence with the borrowed information.
The author's last name or name of the article appears at the beginning of the corresponding works cited entry for the source from which the information was borrowed.
In-Text Citation with an Author's Last Name
In “To His Coy Mistress,” by Andrew Marvell, the speaker laments, “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (lines 5-7).
The works cited entry begins with the author's last name, and his last name appears in the sentence with the quotation.
The (lines 5-7) indicates the lines where a reader can locate this information. When quoting poetry, you need not include a page number in an in-text citation.
Corresponding Works Cited Entry for the Poem as It Appears in the Textbook
Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017, pp. 528-529.
In-Text Citation with the Name of an Article
In “To His Coy Mistress,” the speaker laments, “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (lines 5-7).
The works cited entry begins with the name of an article, and its name appears in the sentence with the quotation.
With some databases, the name of the author is not included as part of the article. In such an instance, the name of the article appears in the sentence with the quotation and at the beginning of the corresponding works cited entry. Sometimes, the name of the article and the name of the poem are identical.
Corresponding Works Cited Entry for the Poem with an Article with No Author’s Name
"To His Coy Mistress." Poetry for Students, edited by Mary Ruby, vol. 5, Gale, 1999, pp. 275-288. Gale eBooks, https://link-gale-com.db29.linccweb.org/apps/doc/CX2691300030/GVRL?u=lincclin_vcc&sid=GVRL&xid=0f57299e. Accessed 8 July 2020.
MLA Parenthetical References
A sentence with borrowed information, such as a definition, quotation, statistic, etc., requires a citation.
With a parenthetical reference, an author's last name or a name of an article appears in parentheses at the end of the sentence with borrowed information.
The author's last name or name of the article appears at the beginning of the corresponding works cited entry for the source from which the information was borrowed.
Parenthetical Reference with an Author's Last Name
In “To His Coy Mistress,” the speaker laments, “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (Marvell, lines 5-7).
The works cited entry begins with the author's last name, and his last name appears within the parentheses.
The (lines 5-7) indicates the lines where a reader can locate this information. When quoting poetry, you need not include a page number in a parenthetical reference.
Corresponding Works Cited Entry for the Poem as It Appears in the Textbook
Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017, pp. 528-529.
Parenthetical Reference with the Name of an Article
The speaker laments, “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (“To His Coy Mistress,” lines 5-7).
The works cited entry begins with the name of the article, and it appears in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
With some databases, the name of the author is not included as part of the article. In such an instance, the name of the article appears in the parentheses. Sometimes, the name of the article and the name of the poem are identical.
Corresponding Works Cited Entry for the Poem with an Article with No Author’s Name
"To His Coy Mistress." Poetry for Students, edited by Mary Ruby, vol. 5, Gale, 1999, pp. 275-288. Gale eBooks, https://link-gale-com.db29.linccweb.org/apps/doc/CX2691300030/GVRL?u=lincclin_vcc&sid=GVRL&xid=0f57299e. Accessed 8 July 2020.
What about Electronic Copies of a Poem?
MLA In-Text Citations and Parenthetical References
MLA Works Cited Entries
Electronic Copies of a Poem
The in-text citations and parenthetical references for an electronic copy of a poem are the same as those for a printed copy.
The works cited entry is written to reflect an electronic rather than a printed source.
Corresponding Works Cited Entry for an Electronic Copy of a Poem
Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress.” Great Carpe Diem Poems, University of Maine, 2019, http:www.uofm.edu. Accessed 9 June 2020.
Poet's name. Name of the poem. Name of the website, creator or sponsor of the website, the year of publication, and the URL. The access date is the day when you went online and found this electronic copy.
The creator or sponsor of the website, as well as the year of publication, usually appear at the bottom of the homepage.
What about Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Phrase or Word?
Choosing
Supplying
Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Phrase or Word
Works cited entries beginning with the same phrase or word can create problems for MLA in-text citations and parenthetical references.
To avoid such problems, choose which word or words from the works cited entries are needed for readers to distinguish between the two entries.
When writing the in-text citation or parenthetical reference, supply the chosen word or words.
Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Author’s Last Name
Marvell, Andrew. “The Garden.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017, pp. 89-91.
Marvell, Andrew. “To His Coy Mistress.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, portable 12th edition, Norton, 2017, pp. 528-529.
Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Author’s Last Name
In “To His Coy Mistress,” by Andrew Marvell, the speaker laments, “Thou by the Indian Ganges’ side / Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide / Of Humber would complain” (lines 5-7).
By including the name of the poem, the writer enables the reader to determine that this quotation is associated with the second works cited entry rather than the first one.
Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Article Name
“Marvell’s Greatest Works.” England’s Greatest Poets, University of Cambridge, 2019, http://www.uofc.edu. Accessed 3 July 2020.
“Marvell’s Greatest Works.” Poetry for the Masses, Poetry Foundation, 2016, http://www.poetryfoundation.org. Accessed 3 July 2020.
Two Works Cited Entries Beginning with the Same Article Name
Several literary scholars applaud Marvell’s use of symbolism. For example, one notes, “Marvell could take an ordinary household object and infuse it with symbolism” (“Marvell’s Greatest Works,” England’s Greatest Poets).
By including the name of the website, the writer enables the reader to link the quotation with the correct corresponding works cited entry.
Questions or Comments?
Just let me know.
