Citing Sources - MLA Style
Modern Language Association
Information and Examples
Ivy Tech Community College
Northwest Libraries
Note: Students should also comply with documentation requirements and expectations set by individual instructors
that supplement or depart from this guide.
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Credit: Northwest Ivy Tech Libraries wish to acknowledge the work of Lafayette Ivy Tech
Library in enhancing the original documentation produced by Evansville.
Note: Students should also comply with documentation requirements and expectations set
by individual instructors that might supplement or depart from this guide.
Sources consulted for this guide:
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language
Association, 2009. Print.
Purdue OWL."MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2009
Web. 6 July 2009.
Contents:
Issues of Ethics
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
MLA Style: In-text Citations and Works Cited
In-text Citations and Basic Works Cited Formats
Format for Citing Library Subscribed Databases
• Biography Resource Center
• EBSCOhost databases
• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Health and Wellness Resource Center
• NetLibrary (ebooks)
• Opposing Viewpoints
• ProQuest databases
Website or Online Journal Article (not a subscribed database)
Print Resources:
• Anthologies
• Book with One Author
• Book with Two or Three Authors
• Book: Edited and Book: Collection of Essays
• Encyclopedia
• Bible and Other Sacred Texts
• Journal: One Author and Journal: Multiple Authors
• Magazines: No Author
• Newspapers: No Author
Audio Recording and Radio Broadcast
TV: News Broadcast and Series Episode
Motion Picture
Personal Interview
E-mail Correspondence
More Examples
First page for MLA
Works Cited Page for MLA
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Issues of Ethics
Academic Integrity: Ivy Tech Community College is committed to academic
integrity in all its practices. Cheating on papers, tests, or other academic works is a
violation of College rules. No student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the
instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating. This may include, but is not limited
to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without
permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and
other academic work. This includes students who aid and abet, as well as those who
attempt such behavior.
Cases of student misconduct and/or lack of academic integrity are to be referred to
the chief academic officer or chief student affairs officer. A student who violates the rules
and regulations of the College may be subject to disciplinary actions which may include, but
not limited to, the following: verbal reprimand; restitution for damages; restriction of
privileges; failure of the assignment or course; withdrawal from a course, program or the
College for the remainder of the semester or term; suspension from the College; dismissal
from the College.
Plagiarism: Much of your college education will involve learning what others have
written and then integrating those ideas into your own thinking. However, in academic
writing any ideas or words not credited to another are assumed to be those of the author.
Plagiarism occurs when you fail to give credit for ideas not original to you.
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What must be acknowledged?
Any direct quotation. The exact words quoted must be placed in quotation marks.
Paraphrases and summaries of others’ ideas and/or words which provide background
information, present facts not commonly known, and explain various positions on
your topic.
If an author presents an arguable assertion that may or may not be true, cite the
source.
Statistics, charts, tables, and graphs from any source. Credit all graphic material
even if you create the graph.
The College considers the purchase of research papers or the employment of a person or
agency to prepare such papers to be plagiarism. In addition, though you may get help in
writing your paper, there are limits to the amount of help you can honestly receive. Others
may read your paper and point out weaknesses, but they must not rewrite the paper for
you. A problem can also occur if you submit the same paper for more than one course.
Discuss the assignment with your current instructor.
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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MLA Style: In-text Citations and Works Cited
In-text Citation: Format (Citing a Source within Your Paper or Essay)
If the author is named in a signal phrase, only a page reference (if available) is
needed for in-text citations:
According to computer expert and university professor John Smithson, “People, not
computers, will create Millennium Mania” (23).
If the author is unnamed in the sentence, provide the last name and page number at the
end:
One computer expert and university professor claims that “People, not computers,
will create Millennium Mania” (Smithson 23).
Basic Works Cited and References Formats
At the end of your paper, you are to list the sources you cite using a style and format
chosen by your instructor. The MLA (Modern Language Association) style refers to this list
as Works Cited. Use these basic citation forms as a guideline and then examine the citation
examples that follow. If your source does not provide a particular piece of information, you
may skip it and move on to the next piece of your citation. (In most cases the state is not
required with the city of publication.) Remember, too, you cite sources to give credit to
their authors and to provide your readers with enough information to locate that source for
further consideration.
MLA citations will have the titles of independently published works appear in Italics.
Underlining is no longer used. Show the medium of publication at the end of the citation.
Works Cited Basic Format
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Publication Medium.
General notes: Modern Language Association (MLA)
• This format requires in-text citations (author’s last name and page number) for
quotations, paraphrases, or summaries of material from print and other sources.
• This format alphabetizes sources on a double-spaced Works Cited page.
• MLA follows conventional capitalization rules for article titles.
• Italicize titles of books and journals (refer to section 3.6.2 MLA Handbook).
• Use quotation marks for the titles of articles (refer to section 3.6.3 MLA Handbook).
• The Works Cited citation examples in this guide demonstrate hanging indentation.
The first line is not indented, but additional lines are indented five character spaces.
• Entries in the Works Cited page are arranged in alphabetical order.
• Add the medium of publication at the end of the citation (e.g. Print for a print book
or print journal).
• When no author is listed, go to the next piece of required information and begin the
citation there.
• All journals include volume and issue number.
• For online sources the url is not cited; use Web to note an online source. Individual
instructors may require the url. Always consult with your instructor for preferences!
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Format for Citing Library Subscribed Databases
Ivy Tech Community College Library Subscribed Databases
This guide makes a distinction between online resources that are research databases
subscribed to by Ivy Tech Community College Northwest and all other web- or Internetbased resources. These subscribed databases offer fulltext journals, magazines,
newspapers, and books and can be accessed from regional Virtual Library start pages onand off-campus.
To access Library resources log into Campus Connect http://cc.ivytech.edu
and select the Library tab.
Use your Campus Connect username and password if prompted.
Works Cited Format:
The following is based on section 5.6.4 of MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th
ed.
Author last name, first name. “Title of Article”. Title of Periodical. Series (if relevant).
Volume and Issue (Date of periodical – year only if scholarly journal): pagination
(use n.pag. if not available). Database. Web. Date of Access (day Month year).
For in-text Citations: Provide the last name of the author(s) and use the page numbers
provided if the article is given as an image of the original (e.g., in .pdf format).
Example citations for Ivy Tech Virtual Library Databases
Biography Resource Center
Works Cited Format:
“Joseph P. Kennedy.” Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement 19 (1999). Biography Resource
Center. Web. 1 May 2003.
In-text Citation: (“Joseph P. Kennedy”)
EBSCOhost (a service offering a number of databases)
Works Cited Format
Jeffrey, Robert W., and Simone A. French. “Epidemic Obesity in the United States: Are Fast Foods
and Television Viewing Contributing?” American Journal of Public Health 88.2 (1998): 277-81.
Business Source Premier. Web. 10 July, 2003.
In-text Citation: (Jeffrey and French 278)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Works Cited Format:
“Diabetes Mellitus.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Academic Edition. 2009. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Online. Web. 8 July 2009.
In-text Citation: (“Diabetes Mellitus”)
Health and Wellness Resource Center
Works Cited Format:
Pfeifer, Michael A. “Eye Care: Catching Problems Early.” Diabetes Forecast 54.6 (2001): 10. Health
and Wellness Resource Center. Web. 15 Aug. 2001.
In-text Citation: (Pfeifer 10)
NetLibrary (apply this example to ebrary, Humanities E-Book, and Books 24X7)
Works Cited Format:
Bell, Elizabeth. From Mouse to Mermaid: The Politics of Film, Gender, and Culture. Bloomington, IN:
University of Indiana P, 1995. NetLibrary. Web. 6 June 2006.
In-text Citation: (Bell 32)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
Works Cited Format:
Rentschler, William H. "The Prison System Does Not Work." Current Controversies: Prisons. Ed. Bryan
J. Grapes. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2000: n.pag. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web.
16 June 2003.
In-text Citation: (Rentschler)
ProQuest
Works Cited Format:
Cook, Philip J. and Jens Ludwig. “Does Gun Prevalence Affect Teen Gun Carrying after All?”
Criminology 42.1 (2004): 27. ProQuest. Web. 6 June 2006.
In-text Citation: (Cook and Ludwig 27)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Examples for Other Internet-based Resources
Advice for URLS (website addresses)
For resources from websites, use the URL only if the instructor requires it or the address is
needed to locate the site. It should be in angle brackets, begin with http and located immediately
after the date. It should end with a period. If you must break a URL address, break it after a slash (if
possible) and do not add hyphens.
For in-text citations, use the page numbers provided if the article is given as an image of the
original (e.g., in .pdf format). Provide paragraph numbers if available. If no page or paragraph
numbers are available, omit them; do not use page numbers from printouts. Use N.p. if no publisher
and n.d. if no date.
Document or information from a website
Works Cited Format:
Rolfe, John. “Letter of John Rolfe, 1614.” Virtual Jamestown. Virginia Center for Digital History, U of
Virginia, 1998. Web. 9 July 2009.
<http://www.iath.virginia.edu/vcdh/jamestown/rolfe_letter.html>.
In-text Citation: (Rolfe).
Entire Website - Works Cited Format:
Virtual Jamestown. Virginia Center for Digital History, U of Virginia, 2007. Web. 9 July 2009.
<http://www.virtualjamestown.org>.
In-text Citation: (Virtual Jamestown)
Article in an online magazine or journal (not a subscribed database):
Works Cited Format:
Boutin, Paul. “Flipping the Switch: Linux’s New Popularity May Hurt Apple More Than Microsoft.”
Slate. Washington Post, 23 June 2003. Web. 9 July 2003.
<http://slate.msn.com/id/2084727/>.
In-text Citation: (Boutin)
Print Resources
Work in Anthologies
In a Works Cited list you may cross-reference two or more selections from an anthology. Give
the complete citation of the anthology, and in separate citations, give only the author, title of the
selection from the anthology, the editor’s last name, and the page numbers. In the example below,
the Angelou and Cobb works are included in Brunk’s anthology.
Works Cited Format:
Angelou, Maya. “Mary.” Brunk 3-9.
Brunk, Terence, et al., eds. Literacies. New York: Norton, 2000. Print.
Cobb, Jennifer J. "Cybergrace: The Search for God in the Digital World.” Brunk 155-67.
In-text Citation: (Cobb 162)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Books: One Author
Author, Adam. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year. Publication medium.
Works Cited Format
Tompkins, Jane. West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns. New York: Oxford UP, 1992.
Print.
In-text Citation: (Tompkins 45)
Books: Two or Three Authors
Author, Adam, and Eve Authoress. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Publication medium.
Works Cited Format:
Rico, Barbara, and Sandra Mano. American Mosaic: Multicultural Readings in Context. Boston:
Houghton, 1991. Print.
In-text Citation: (Rico and Mano 45)
Books: Edited
Editor, Edward, and Edith Editor, eds. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Publication medium.
Works Cited Format:
Hornblower, Simon and Antony Spawforth, eds. Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization. New
York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.
In-text Citation: (Hornblower and Spawforth 45)
Collection of Essays
Author(s). “Article Title”. Title of Collection. Ed. Editor(s) Name(s). City: Publisher, Year. Page
Range of entry. Medium of publication.
Works Cited Format:
Pertman, Adam. “International Adoptions Should Be Celebrated”. Issues in Adoption: Current
Controversies. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2004. 25-36. Print.
In-text Citation: (Pertman 29). [The original date of the reprinted article is unnecessary.]
Encyclopedia & Other Reference Works
Author, Adam. “Entry Title.” Reference Title. edition (if stated) Year. Publication medium.
Works Cited Format:
Cloos, Mark. “Plate Tectonics.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2004 ed. Print.
In-text Citation: (Cloos 561)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Works Cited Format:
“Child Directed Speech”. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 4th ed.
2000. Print.
In-text Citation: (“Child Directed Speech” 322)
Bible and Other Sacred Texts
When citing the Bible, Koran, Torah, or other sacred texts, provide the version title in the first
in-text citation. Standard abbreviations for books within the text are allowed:
The teacher’s response to being ridiculed was to say, “Like the crackling of thorns under
the pot, so is the laughter of fools” (Holy Bible: New International Version Eccles. 7.6).
Thereafter, in-text citations can simply provide the book, chapter, and verse. In the works cited
or reference list, follow the standard format.
Works Cited Format
Holy Bible: New International Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1978. Print.
Journal: One Author
Author, Adam. “Article Title”. Journal Title vol.series (Date of publication – for journals, the
year): Inclusive page numbers. Medium of publication.
Works Cited Format:
Knecht, Michael. “Cell Phones in the Stacks.” American Libraries 34.6 (2003): 68-69. Print.
In-text citation: (Knecht 68)
Journal: Multiple Authors (more than 3)
Author, Adam, et al. “Article Title.” Journal Title Volume.Series (Year): Pages. Print.
Works Cited Format:
Bender, Ralf, et al. “Effect of Age on Excess Mortality in Obesity.” Journal of the American
Medical Association 281.16 (1999): 1498-1504. Print.
In-text citation: (Bender et al. 1499)
OR
Works Cited Format:
Bender, Ralf, Karl-Heinz Jockel, Christoph Trautner, Maximilian Spraul, and Michael Berger.
“Effect of Age on Excess Mortality in Obesity.” Journal of the American Medical
Association 281.6 (1999): 1498-1504. Print.
In-text citation: (Bender, Jockel, Trautner, Spraul and Berger 1499)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Magazines: No Author
“Article Title.” Magazine Title Date (day, month, and year as available): Pages. Print.
Works Cited Format:
“Radiation in Russia.” U.S. News and World Report 9 Aug. 1993: 40-42. Print.
In-text citation: (“Radiation in Russia” 41)
Newspapers: No Author
“Article Title.” Newspaper Title Date (day, month, year): Pages. Print.
Works Cited Format:
“Bayh Presents Tax Relief Proposal.” Post-Tribune [Merrillville] 17 June 2009: A9.
Print.
In-text citation: (“Bayh Presents Tax... ” A9)
Audio Recording
Composer, Charles. “Song Title.” Performer’s name if different from writer. Album Name.
Manufacturer, Issue Year (or n.d. if not known). Medium (e.g. Audiocassette, LP, CD).
Works Cited Format:
McCain, Edwin. “I’ll Be.” Misguided Roses. Atlantic, 1997. CD.
In-text citation: (McCain)
Radio Broadcast
“Episode Title” (if available). Program Title. Network Name. Call Letters and City of the Local
Station if applicable. Broadcast date. Radio.
Works Cited Format:
Car Talk. National Public Radio. WFMT, Chicago. 25 July 2006. Radio.
In-text citation: (Car Talk)
Note: no page numbers for radio or
news broadcasts
TV: News Broadcast
Broadcast Title. Network. Call Letters, City of Local Station. Broadcast date. Television.
Works Cited Format:
Fox News at 9:00. Fox-32. WFLD, Chicago, IL. 7 July 2009. Television.
In-text citation: (Fox News at 9:00)
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TV: Series Episode
“Title of Episode.” Program Title. Network Name. Call Letters and City of the Local Station if
applicable. Broadcast date. Television.
Works Cited Format:
“Cicely.” Northern Exposure. Arts & Entertainment Network. New York. 26 July 1993.
Television.
In-text citation: (“Cicely”)
Motion Picture
Title. Directors’ names. Performers’ names. Distributor, Distribution Year. Film.
Works Cited Format:
Independence Day. Dir. Roland Emmerich. Perf. Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum.
Twentieth Century Fox, 1996. Film.
In-text citation: (Independence Day)
Personal Interview
Name, First Name. Interview Type (personal or telephone). Date of Interview.
Works Cited Format:
Smith, John. Personal Interview. 25 Aug. 1999.
In-text citation: (Smith)
E-Mail
Name of writer. “Message Title” (taken from subject line). A description of the message (e.g.
Message to the Author). Date of Message. E-mail.
Works Cited Format:
Weaver, Barbara. “Date Stickers.” Message to Janet Katich. 8 July 2009. E-mail.
In-text citation: (Weaver)
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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Name and page number should be ½ inch
from top of the page.
Knot 1
Shirley Knot
Instructor Leslie More
Double-space
Sociology 101
9 September 2005
Double-space between
date and title of paper
[Center Title of
Paper]
[1” margins, left and right, top and bottom]
Text of paper is double-spaced
Use Times New Roman 12 point font
[First
Page MLA Format – no cover sheet needed unless required by instructor]
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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[More Examples -- Sample MLA Works Cited Page]
Johnson 5
Works Cited
Bloomgarden, Zachary T. “Treatment Issues in Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care 25.2.
(2002): 390-94. Nursing & Allied Health Source. Web. 16 May 2003.
Cavallerano, Jerry D. “The Problem of Diabetic Eye Disease.” Diabetes. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes.
San Diego: Greenhaven, 2003. 34-38. Print.
Pfeifer, Michael A. “Eye Care: Catching Problems Early.” Diabetes Forecast 54.6 (February
2001): 10. Health and Wellness Resource Center. Web. 15 June 2001.
Seiffge-Krenke, Inge. Diabetic Adolescents and Their Families. New York: Cambridge
University P., 2001. ebrary. Web. 15 June 2003.
Shapiro, Laura. “In Sugar We Trust.” Newsweek 13 July 1998: 72-74. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 20 March 2006.
Citing Sources MLA Style—Ivy Tech Northwest (updated July 2009)
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