Glencoe Keyboarding with Computer Applications

Identify MLA Format

Introduction
Find out more about the Modern Language Association (MLA) and its guidelines.

Directions
Read the information below and apply what you learn to answer the questions. Key your answers into the spaces provided. Note: All citations in this activity are invented for teaching purposes.

MLA The Modern Language Association (MLA) is an organization that provides a popular set of guidelines for writing and citing sources in research papers. Teachers and scholars developed the MLA system and the guidelines for citing research sources and keep them updated. The MLA style is widely used in high schools, colleges, and companies and organizations that publish research papers.

Works Cited Page The works cited page is an alphabetical list of all the sources you cite in the body of the paper. This appears on a separate page at the end of the research paper. The format of citations, such as punctuation, underlining, and order of information, depends on the source of your information.

In the body of the paper, the quoted text—facts, ideas, or information—is usually followed by the author’s or source’s name and the page number(s) in parentheses. Here is an example of an in-text reference:

Here is an example of the listing for this in-text reference in the works cited page:

Note: Each item in the list of works cited should appear in alphabetical order with the carryover lines indented 0.5 inch (use a hanging indent).

Citing Sources For detailed information on the citation format to use for books, magazines, newspapers, and articles in periodicals, see the Academic Report Format Guide (link coming soon)

To find other Internet sites with similar information, use a search engine using one of the following keywords: MLA, Modern Language Association, research paper citations.

Citing Online Sources For detailed information on citing online sources see the Academic Report Format Guide (link coming soon). In general, give as much information as possible so that the reader has enough information to access the site.

Underline the title of the professional or personal Web site. If the site does not have a title, use the words Home Page. When citing someone’s personal Web page, begin the citation with the author’s full name, or screen name, if possible. Follow the author’s name with the underlined title of the Web page.

Give the date of the work and the date that the researcher accessed the source, in military style. Include the electronic address, or URL, of the source. Enclose the URL in angle brackets < > followed by a period. Here is an example:

Doodlewish. Doodle’s Tales of Math in the House Home Page. 7 Jun. 2005. 31 Aug. 2006 <http://doodlewish.org/tales>.

1			What is the Modern Language Association?
2			Where are the MLA style and guidelines widely used?
3			Which text of the following citation for an online article should be underlined? “Vacation Planning.“ vacationtogohelp.com.15 Feb. 2006. 21 Dec. 2006 <http://www.vacationtogohelp.com/world/costarica>.
4			Key the following citation using the correct MLA format for the following book, remembering to indent the carryover line: Cheryl J. Wilkes, High Fashion Dressing for Babies (Venice: Faux Reality Press, 2005).
5			Key the guidelines for citing an electronic address, or URL, and then give an example.