How to Cite Evidence in MLA Format: An ESL Guide

📚 What is MLA Citation?

MLA (Modern Language Association) citation is a standardized method for giving credit to the sources you use in your academic writing. It's primarily used in the humanities, such as literature, languages, and cultural studies. Proper citation demonstrates academic integrity, avoids plagiarism, and allows readers to locate your sources.

📜 A Brief History of MLA

The Modern Language Association was founded in 1883. The MLA style guide originated in 1951 as a way to standardize scholarly work in modern languages and literature. Over the decades, it has been revised and updated to reflect changes in research practices and technology. The current edition is the ninth edition.

🔑 Key Principles of MLA Citation

• 🖋️ In-text Citations: Brief references within your writing that point to the full source entry in the Works Cited list.
• 📄 Works Cited List: An alphabetized list at the end of your paper that provides complete bibliographic information for all sources cited.
• ✅ Accuracy: Ensuring that all information, such as author names, titles, and publication dates, is correct.
• 🧑‍🏫 Consistency: Following the same formatting rules throughout your entire paper.

✍️ How to Create In-Text Citations

MLA in-text citations typically include the author's last name and the page number(s) where the information was found. If you mention the author's name in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in the citation.

• 👤 Author-Page: (Smith 42)
• 🖋️ With Author in Sentence: Smith argues that... (42)
• 🌐 Website (no page numbers): (Smith) - use the author's last name or the title of the webpage if there is no author.

📝 Constructing a Works Cited Entry

The format for a Works Cited entry depends on the type of source. Here are some common examples:

Book:

• 🧑‍💻 Single Author: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
• 🤝 Multiple Authors: Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Journal Article:

• 📰 Format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Date, pp. Pages.

Website:

• 🌍 Format: Last Name, First Name (if available). "Title of Page." Website Name, Date of Publication, URL. Accessed Date.

💡 Examples of MLA Citations

Example 1: Citing a book

In-text: (Jones 123)

Works Cited: Jones, Sarah. The Power of Language. Oxford University Press, 2020.

Example 2: Citing a website

In-text: (Smith)

Works Cited: Smith, John. "The Importance of Education." Education Today, 15 Jan. 2023, www.educationtoday.com/importance-of-education. Accessed 20 Feb. 2023.

🧪 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Missing Citations: Failing to cite sources for borrowed information.
• 🔀 Incorrect Formatting: Not following MLA guidelines for in-text citations or the Works Cited list.
• 📝 Incomplete Information: Leaving out crucial details like publication dates or page numbers.

✅ Conclusion

Mastering MLA citation is essential for academic success. By understanding the key principles and practicing with examples, you can confidently cite your sources and produce high-quality, credible work.