Urban Legend Essay

MLA Citation Prof. Soullier Comp 1302

In-text Citation ● All papers MUST have in-text citations. ● This is important because these tell the reader

that the information is from another source. ● Each source must be listed on the Works Cited ● A paper without in-text citations can be

considered plagiarized; protect yourself.

Citing a Source: Each in-text citation much contain at least two items: ○ the author and page number.

Ex. (Author 3) If no author is present, then use: ○ Title or Government Agency

If an author, title, or agency is not present, then use: ○ Corporation

If none or these are present, then it is probably not a good source and should not be used.

Quotes and Paraphrases

There are two kinds of in-text citations: ○ Paraphrases: A paraphrase is a summation of

the information and is not in “ “. ○ Direct quotes: Direct quotes are the exact

words of the author and are in “ “.

Citation Examples Paraphrase Example Several researchers have analyzed the reasons that companies monitor employees’ use of the Internet at work (Botan 128). (Author and Page #)

Direct Quote Example “A man may see how this world goes/with no eyes” (Shakespeare 4.2.148-49). (Author, act, scene, and line)

*Use your course materials in case of unique citations

Lead in A lead in mentions the source before the paraphrase or quote instead of at the end. ○ The first time an author’s name as a lead in, use

his or her full name. ○ The page number would appear at the end of

the quote. Lead in Example At the end of Kate Chopin’s “The Story of the Hour,” Mrs. Mallard drops dead upon learning that her husband is alive (25).

End Citations

An end citation includes the source at the end of the citation in (Author 4).

End Citation “At the end of ”The Story of the Hour,” Mrs. Mallard drops dead upon learning that her husband is alive” (Chopin 25).

Number of Authors The number of authors will change the in-text citations for a lead in and end an citation. ○ 1 author: (Monks 38) ○ 2 authors: (Monks and Hood 38) ○ 3 authors: (Monks et al. 38)

Several works by one author When citing more than one work by the same author, we need to mention his or her name and the work title.

Lead-in Ex.

Kate Chopin ironically relates, “Mrs. Mallard drops dead upon learning that her husband is alive” (“Story of the Hour” 25).

End Citation Ex. “Mrs. Mallard drops dead upon learning that her husband is alive” (Chopin, “Story of the Hour” 25).

Two works/Same author When you have two works by the same author, you would cite the last name, title, and the page number.

● (Tufte, Visual 25) OR ● (Tufte, “Powerpoint” 29)

Two Authors, Same Last Name

○ When citing two authors with the same last name use the first initial as well.

○ Ex. (M. Smith 54)

Writing Source Titles Writing the title of a work is done the same no matter where in the paper it is written.

“The Yellow Wallpaper” ○ short works (ex. poems, short stories, articles,

songs, and small works of literature) are written in quotation marks.

Hamlet ○ Larger works (ex. books, magazines, and

academic journals) are written in italics.

One or No Page Sources ○ When citing sources that have one or no pages

online or elsewhere, we would use the paragraph or line numbers.

● (Smith, par. 3) Use for articles and text works.

● (Smith, lines 2-4) Use for poems and songs.

Citing a Quote Inside of a Source

○ When citing a quote inside of a source that is not from that source, use “qtd” to show that the quote is not from the author of your source, but from outside.

○ Use the quotes author as a lead in. Ex. Kevin Williams states, “random quote”

(qtd. in Smith 94).

For Additional Help For help with in-text citations or help with citing less common sources, visit Owl Purdue.