LIBRARY GUIDE 4
MLA STYLE FOR RESEARCH PAPER FORMAT AND CITATION
PURPOSE
The following guide has been prepared for both HPU students and faculty as a quick reference for courses
requiring MLA organizational format and style of citation. This style is standard in many courses in English and
the humanities. MLA numbers refer to page numbers and sections in the MLA Handbook for Writers of
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Research Papers 7 edition.
RESEARCH PAPER FORMAT ORGANIZATION:
1. Text
a. First page of a research paper.
MLA 116-121 (4.1-4.5)
i.
Begin at the left hand margin and one inch from the top edge of paper, and type:
ii.
Student's full name on separate line.
iii.
Instructor's name on separate line, two lines below student’s name.
iv.
Course number on separate line, two lines below instructor’s name.
v.
Date on separate line, two lines below course number.
vi.
Original title of paper (centered on separate line), two lines below date. Do not italicize
or underline your title, put it in quotation marks or boldface, or type it in all capital
letters.
vii.
Begin text of the paper two lines below the paper's title.
viii.
Double space entire text including quotations. Integrate quotations shorter than four
lines into text. If quotation is longer than four lines, indent one inch from left margin
and continue double spacing. This block method does not use quotation marks.
ix.
Number all pages (including first page) in the upper right corner (one-half inch from top
of the paper), and include last name of student; e.g., Smith 1.
b. Subsequent pages.
i.
One-inch margins on all sides.
ii.
Tables and illustrations should appear as close as possible to the parts of the text to
which they relate.
MLA 214 (6.1)
c. Parenthetical documentation of sources is used throughout the text (see below).
2. Work Cited Page
RESEARCH PAPER CITATION STYLE
Parenthetical documentation of sources within the paper's text is the style recommended.
MLA 213-232 (6)
Example:
Philip Ziegler writes, "The Navy, as the senior, was the obvious choice" (18).
"The Navy, as the senior, was the obvious choice" (Ziegler 18).
Documentation is required for all quotations, paraphrases, and summaries of borrowed material. This
material also includes statistics, facts, and unusual wording, even if only one or two words.
WORKS CITED PAGE
MLA129-133 (5.3.1-5.3.3)
1. Continue pagination in upper right-hand margin.
2. Alphabetize all entries in the Works Cited page by author's last (family) name or the first
significant word of the title if the author is not listed.
3. Begin the first line of each entry at the left margin and indent the subsequent line or lines
one-half inch from the left margin.
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4. Double space throughout (do not double space twice between entries). (Illustrations here
are not double spaced)
ENTRY EXAMPLES
1. Books
Format:
Example:
MLA 148-160 (5.5)
Author's last name, first name. Title of Book. Edition. Place of
publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Medium of publication.
(Medium of publication for all “hard copy” books is Print.)
Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 5th ed.
Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1986. Print.
2. Reference books
a. Article in a Reference Book (e.g. Encyclopedias, Dictionaries)
MLA 160-161 (5.5.7)
Format:
Author's last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Encyclopedia. Year ed.
Medium of publication.
Example:
Shirley, James R. “Mandarin.” The Encyclopedia Americana. 1996 ed.
Print.
b. A Multivolume Work
MLA 168-169 (5.5.14)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Book. Ed. editor’s first
name and last name. Edition. Number of volumes. Place of
publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Medium of publication.
Example:
Tyler, Tom R., and Heather J. Smith. “Social Justice and Social
Movements.” The Handbook of Social Psychology. Ed. Daniel T.
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Gilber, Susan T. Fiske, and Gardner Lindzey. 4 ed. 2 vols. Boston:
McGraw-Hill, 1998. Print.
c. Editorials on File
(Citing an editorial)
Format:
“Subject.” Title of Newspaper day month year. Editorials on File. Issue
number(year): Page number. Medium of publication.
Example:
“Social Security Plan has Financial Flaw.” The Denver Post 29 Dec. 2004.
Editorials on File. 36(2005): 290. Print.
3. An Introduction, Preface, Foreward, or Afterward
MLA 161-162 (5.5.8)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. Name of the part being cited. Title of Work.
Author’s first name and last name after the word “By.” Place of
publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Page number(s). Medium of
publication.
Example:
Coetzee, J.M. Introduction. The Confusions of Young Torless. By Robert
Musil. Trans. Shaun Whiteside. New York: Penguin, 2001. v-xiii. Print.
4. Print Periodicals
a. Article in a Scholarly Journal
MLA 137-141 (5.4.2)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal
Volume.Issue numbers (Year): Page number(s). Medium of publication.
Example:
Mangan, Doreen. "Henry Caselli: Superb Contradictions." American Artist
38.2 (1974): 39-43. Print.
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b. Article in a Magazine
MLA 142-143 (5.4.6)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine day
month year: Page number(s). Medium of publication.
Example:
Pileggi, Nicholas. "A Long Smolderly Summer?" New York 21 June 1982:
28-31. Print.
c. Article in a Newspaper
MLA 141-142 (5.4.5)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper day
month year, edition: section letter and page number of article. Medium of
publication.
Example:
Collins, Glenn. "Single-Father Survey Finds Adjustment a Problem." New
York Times 21 Nov. 1983, western ed.: B17. Print.
d. CQ Researcher
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Report.” CQ Researcher day month
year: Page number(s). Medium of publication.
Example:
Marshall, Patrick G. “Software Piracy.” CQ Researcher 21 May 1993: 435455. Print.
5. Film and Video Recording
MLA 197-198 (5.7.3)
Example:
It’s a Wonderful Life. Dir. Frank Capra. Perf. James Stewart, Donna Reed,
Lionel Barrymore, and Thomas Mitchell. RKO,1946. Film.
MLA 197-198 (5.7.3)
For videocassette, DVD, laser disc, etc. include original release date and medium.
Example:
6. Digital File
Format:
Example:
Noujaim, Jehane, dir. Control Room. Lions Gate, 2004. DVD.
MLA 210-211 (5.7.18)
Author’s last name, first name. Name of Work. Date of creation.
Place reserved. Medium of publication.
Delano, Jack. At the Vermont State Fair. 1941. Lib. of Cong.,
Washington. JPEG file.
7. Electronic Resources (Web Publications)
a. Article in an Online Scholarly Journal
i. Article in an Online Only Scholarly Journal
MLA 190 (5.6.3)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume.
Issue numbers (year): no page. Medium of publication (Web).
Date of access (day, month, and year).
Example:
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions
and Future Directions” Social Work and Society: The International
Online-OnlyJournal 6.2 (2008): n.pag. Web. 20 May 2009.
ii. Article in an Online and Print Scholarly Journal
Example:
Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks under a Protocol to the
Biologicaland Toxin Weapons Convention." Emerging Infectious
Diseases 6.6 (2000): 595-600. Web. 8 Feb. 2009.
b. Article in a Magazine
MLA 186 (5.6.2)
Example:
Tyre, Peg. “Standardized Tests in College?” Newsweek. Newsweek, 16
Nov. 2007. Web.15 May 2008.
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c. Article in a Newspaper
MLA 186 (5.6.2)
Example:
Omandam, Pat. “State: OHA Right to Sue Hampers Talks.” Honolulu StarBulletin. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 21 Apr. 1999. Web. 5 May 1999.
d. Article from an Online Database
MLA 192-193 (5.6.4)
Example:
Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century
England.” The Historical Journal 50.1 (2007): 173-196. ProQuest.
Web. 15 June 2008.
e.
E-Book
Example:
MLA 187-189 (5.6.2c)
Cogliano, Francis D. Revolutionary America, 1763-1815: Political History.
London: Routledge, 1999. ebrary. Web. 7 Jan. 2009.
f.
Entire Web Site
Format:
MLA 184-187 (5.6.2)
Author’s last name, first name. Name of Site. Name of Institution, Date of
publication (day, month, and year). Medium of publication. Date of
access (day, month, and year).
Example:
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov.
2003. Web. 10 May 2006.
8. Other Electronic Sources
a. E-mail Communication
MLA 204 (5.7.13)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. “Subject Line.” Message to Recipient. Date of
message (day, month, and year). Medium of delivery.
Example:
b.
Boyle, Anthony T. “Re:Utopia.” Message to Daniel J. Cahill. 21 June 1997.
E-mail.
Listserve, Discussion Group, or Blog Posting
MLA 184-187 (5.6.2b)
Format:
Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Posting.” Name of Site. Name of
sponsor. Medium of publication. Date of access (day, month, and year).
Example:
Frost, Diana. “List of Favorite Articles.” World Literature Discussion Group.
University of La’uaha. Web. 22 Oct. 2007.
If you need to include a URL, follow the guidelines in 5.6.1.
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Students should consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7 edition) for examples of other
types of entries. Copies of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers are available at the Reference
Services Desks at Meader and Atherton libraries and also found in both libraries’ Reference and General
Collections -- call number: LB2369 .G53 2009.
J. Moelzer
W. Wang
Rev.: 09/03/09
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MLA has many variables in its citations. Verify your chosen citation arrangement with the descriptions in the MLA Handbook.
Book or Encyclopedia
Author(s)
“Title of Article or
Chapter” (Encyclopedia)
Editor’s name
(Encyclopedia)
Title of Book
Edition/volume
(Encyclopedia)
Example: Book (MLA 148-160)
The Fatal Shore.
Hughes,
Robert.
Hughes, Robert. The Fatal Shore. New York: Knopf, 1987. Print.
Example: Encyclopedia Entry
Allen, Anita
“Privacy in
L.
Health Care.”
(MLA 160-161)
Encyclopedia of Bioethics.
Ed. Stephen G.
Post.
rd
3 ed.
Vol. 4.
Place: Publisher,
year
Medium of
publication
New York: Knopf,
1987.
Print.
New York: MacmillanThomson, 2004.
Print.
rd
Allen, Anita L. “Privacy in heath Care.” Encyclopedia of Bioethics. Ed. Stephen G. Post. 3 ed. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan-Thomson, 2004. Print.
Journal Article (Print)
Author(s)
“Title of Article”
Title of Journal
Volume. Issue
numbers
Year
Page(s)
Medium of
publication
Example: Journal article (print) (MLA 137-141)
Cunnigham, John
“Ash Wednesday and the Land
and Jason Peters. Between Dying and Birth.”
South Atlantic
Quarterly
103.1
(2004):
193-214.
Print.
Cunnigham, John and Jason Peters. “Ash Wednesday and the Land Between Dying and Birth.” South Atlantic Quarterly 103.1 (2004): 193-214. Print.
Newspaper, Online
Author(s)
“Title of Article”
Title of Newspaper
Publisher
Date of publication
(Day, Month, Year)
Medium of
publication
Example: Newspaper, Online (MLA 186)
Honolulu Advertiser.
Tsai, Michael. “Deep secrets.”
Honolulu Advertiser 14 March 2004. Web.
Tsai, Michael. ”Deep secrets.” Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu Advertiser, 14 March 2004. Web. 11 April 2005.
Website
Author(s)
“Title of Work”
Name of Site
Name of
Institution
Date of publication
(Day, Month, Year)
Medium of
publication
Date of access
(Day, Month, Year)
11 April 2005.
Date of access
(Day, Month,
Year)
Example: Web Site (MLA 184-187)
Quade,
“Elite Team Rescues Troops CNN.com.
Cable News
19 Mar. 2007.
Web.
15 May 2008.
Alex.
behind Enemy Lines.”
Network
Quade, Alex. “Elite Team Rescues Troops behind Enemy Lines.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 19 Mar. 2007. Web. 15 May 2008.
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