MLA DOCUMENTATION
Portland Bible College requires the documentation style recommended by the Modern
Language Association (MLA) when working with sources in a research paper. MLA style has two major
features. First, all sources cited in a paper are listed on the last page of a paper in a section entitled
Works Cited. Second, material borrowed from another source is documented within the document by a
brief parenthetical reference that directs readers to the full citation in the list of works cited.
HEADING THE PAPER
There is a correct way to head your paper according to MLA. The heading should be double
spaced and lined up on the left side of the first page of your paper. It should include the following items
in this order:
Your full name
Your instructor’s name
The course name
The date
If you have a title to your paper, you can then center it, continuing to double space.
PAGE NUMBERS
Additionally, page numbers should be included on your document. This works well using the header
function on your computer. These should be placed on the right side of each page, preceded by your last
name and with no punctuation:
Last name 1
WORKS CITED PAGE (INCLUDE AT END OF DOCUMENT)
In a research paper following MLA style, the list of works cited is the only place where readers
will find complete bibliographic information about the sources you have cited. Therefore, your list must
be thorough and accurate. Here, you will list all the works that you have cited in the body of the paper.
When preparing this list, follow these general guidelines:
1. Paginate the Works Cited page as a continuation of your text, but compose it on a separate page
from your paper.
2. Center the title, Works Cited.
3. Double-space the entire works cited page.
4. Begin the first line of an entry flush left, and indent successive lines one-half inch or five spaces.
5. List your sources in alphabetical order according to the last name of the author.
6. List bibliographic information in the proper order (see samples below).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS (INCLUDE INSIDE THE BODY OF DOCUMENT)
A parenthetical reference is used within the body of a research paper to document a source
briefly, clearly, and accurately. This can be accomplished in three ways:
1. Cite the author’s last name and the page number(s) of the source in parentheses. (Adams 3-4)
2. Use the author’s last name in your sentence, and place only the page number(s) of the source in
parentheses. (3-4)
3. Give the author’s last name in your sentence when you are citing the entire work rather than a
specific section or passage, and omit any parenthetical reference.
For further information on MLA documentation, refer to the following resources:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A Guide to MLA Documentation by Joseph F. Trimmer, Houghton Mifflin Company
http://www.calstatela.edu/library/guides/3mla.pdf
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/format.shtml
http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/citation/mla
EXAMPLE CITATIONS (BOTH IN-TEXT AND WORKS CITED)
TYPE OF SOURCE
SAMPLE INTEXT CITATION
Book by a single
author
(Doug 123)
APPEARANCE ON WORKS CITED PAGE
FORMAT:
Author’s last name, first name and middle name or
initial. Book Title. City of publication: Publisher, Date of
publication. Medium of publication (Print).
EXAMPLE:
Doug, William C. History of the United States. San
Francisco: Doub & Company, 1927. Print.
Reference book
Bible
(Britannica 18:688)
(New American
Standard Bible Jer.
29:11)
(NASB Jer. 29:11)
FORMAT:
“Word reference”. Encyclopedia Title. Editor. Edition.
City of publication: Publisher, Date of publication.
Medium of publication (Print).
EXAMPLE:
“Trees”. Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed. Chicago:
William Benton, 1979. Print.
FORMAT:
Version of the Bible. General Editor. City of publication:
Publisher, Year of publication. Medium of publication
(Print).
EXAMPLE:
New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1978. Print.
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Internet
(Norse)
FORMAT:
Author’s last name, first name and middle name or
initial. “Title of Article”. Title of overall web site. Version
or edition used. Publisher or sponsor of site; if not
available, use N.p. Date of publication; if nothing is
available, use n.d. Medium of publication (Web). Date of
access.
EXAMPLE:
Norse, Ruth. “The Hijacking of American Education: Part
I”. Forerunner.com. Publisher: N.p. Date of publication:
n.d. Web. October 4, 2001.
Strongest
Concordance
(Strongest 4326)
EXAMPLE:
Goodrick, Edward W., and John R. Kohlenberger III. The
Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1999. Print
PBC Course Binder
(Malmin 16)
EXAMPLE:
Malmin, Glenda. “Jesus Geneology”. Life of Christ Binder.
Portland: Portland Bible College, 2012. Print.
PBC Lecture
(Malmin)
EXAMPLE:
Malmin, Ken. “The Doctrine of Man”. Basic Doctrine
Class. Portland: Portland Bible College. Oct. 22, 2012.
Lecture.
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