Research Stylebook
2010 Update
WESTON HIGH SCHOOL
Weston, CT
Honor – Wisdom - Imagination
TYPES OF RESEARCH PAPERS................................................................................................... 2
FINDING SOURCE MATERIALS ................................................................................................. 2
WORKING WITH ONLINE SOURCES ........................................................................................ 5
THE RESEARCH PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 6
• ESTABLISHING AND NARROWING THE TOPIC ..................................................... 6
• PRELIMINARY REFERENCES ....................................................................................... 6
• FORMULATING THE THESIS STATEMENT............................................................... 7
• OUTLINING ...................................................................................................................... 7
• TAKING NOTES AND USING QUOTATIONS............................................................ 7
• PLAGIARISM/ACADEMIC HONESTY......................................................................... 9
• DOCUMENTING SOURCES ........................................................................................... 9
• FINAL OUTLINE .............................................................................................................. 10
• ROUGH DRAFT ................................................................................................................ 11
• REVISING AND EDITING............................................................................................... 11
• THE FINAL COPY............................................................................................................. 11
• PROOFREADING ............................................................................................................. 12
• PUBLISHING FINAL COPY ............................................................................................ 12
• SELF ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST................................................................................... 13
APPENDIX I: MLA STYLE FOR “WORKS CITED” PAGE .................................................................. 14
• Rules and Sample Entries: Books .................................................................................... 14
• Rules and Sample Entries: Articles in Periodicals ........................................................ 17
• Sample Entries: Other Sources......................................................................................... 19
• Rules and Sample Entries: Online Sources .................................................................... 23
APPENDIX II: APA STYLE FOR “REFERENCES” PAGE ..................................................................... 28
• General APA Print Forms ................................................................................................ 28
• Sample Entries: Print References..................................................................................... 29
• General APA Online Forms ............................................................................................. 30
• Sample Entries: Online References.................................................................................. 30
APPENDIX III: Parenthetical Referencing MLA Style ..................................................................... 32
APPENDIX IV: Comparing MLA and APA Parenthetical Referencing Format ............................... 36
APPENDIX V: Common Symbols and Meanings ............................................................................. 37
APPENDIX VI: Sample Forms .......................................................................................................... 38
• Sample Note Card ............................................................................................................. 38
• Sample Source Card .......................................................................................................... 38
APPENDIX VII: Anatomy of a URL............................................................................................. 39
Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………………40
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RESEARCH STYLEBOOK
This booklet will provide you with a foundation for the process of writing a research paper and
will serve as a style guide for assignments given by Weston High School teachers. However, you
should always adapt to the specific requirements of the assignment made by your teacher.
I. TYPES OF RESEARCH PAPERS
A. Research Report – In the research report you summarize factual information about a
topic, combining information from several sources. As in the expository essay, you do
not become involved in expressing opinions about the topic.
B. Analytical Research Paper – In the analytical research paper you establish an opinion
about a controversial issue. This opinion becomes the thesis, and, as in the persuasive
essay, your goal is to convince the reader that your thesis is valid. Unlike the persuasive
essay, the evidence for establishing the validity of your thesis must come from research.
II. FINDING SOURCE MATERIALS
As you research, be aware that not all sources are equal in quality. Be conscious of:
A. Recency. The more recent your research, the more valid it will be (unless, of course, you
are doing historical research.)
B. Variety. Try to vary your sources so that your evidence will be as strong as possible. For
example, avoid using several issues of the same magazine or the same newspaper. Do
not limit yourself to one type of publication; for example, all news magazines or all
religious magazines.
C. Primary Sources are the most direct kind of information. If you are writing about
literature or the arts, primary sources would be actual novels or short stories, poems,
plays, films, paintings, sculpture, and so on. Diaries, notes, letters, and autobiographies
are other kinds of primary materials. Interviews made by a market researcher,
observations of an astronomer, a music historian relating the circumstances of the
discovery of a newfound Mozart manuscript – all these are primary sources. If you want
to know what the President of the United States believes about foreign policy, go directly
to his speeches and writings. Neil Armstrong’s report of his moonwalk is a primary
source and is more reliable than someone else’s report of the event. Do not overlook
public documents as primary sources: The Congressional Record, the U.S. Census
Reports, and so on, are helpful. Primary sources are not always easy to find, particularly
in the limited time you have for most research assignments. Sometimes they are
impossible to locate and you may be forced to depend entirely on secondary sources. But
you can always use your ingenuity. For instance, as a primary source for research on
“The Effectiveness of the City of X’s Water Supply System for Fire Fighting,” you might
interview or correspond with some of the people responsible for drawing up the master
plan for the water supply and with some fire fighters who have had to rely on that water
supply. You might also correspond with the manufacturer of a pollution control device
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newly installed by a company in your city to obtain information about its development
and to get leads to other companies that have used it and can tell you about its
effectiveness and costs.
D. Secondary Sources are one step removed from the original and are often an evaluation,
commentary, or summary of printed materials. Helpful as they are, they need to be
considered for what they are: writings of another person on a subject. Therefore, they
will probably show the biases of the author; just as your own research paper will
probably reflect your own bias.
Although secondary sources are useful, there is danger in relying too heavily on them,
especially if you ignore the materials on which they are based. You should, therefore,
check on them carefully by going back to the original (primary) source when possible; by
viewing the materials skeptically and critically; and by learning something about the
authors as away of judging veracity, reliability, or bias. Then you will have a clearer
picture of the usefulness of the secondary sources through your own gathering of research
information.
Avoid using the following as documented sources:
A. General encyclopedia. The encyclopedia is a good source to provide you with an
overview of your topic, but avoid using it as a documented source of evidence.
B. Digests or summaries of articles. Instead of using a digest or a summary of an article as a
source, try to locate the original.
Locate your sources through your school library’s online catalog Destiny, in online reference
works, databases and journal indexes, other bibliographies, and sources suggested by your
teacher or library staff.
!! DON’T FORGET YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY DATABASES !!
The following is a list of high-quality subscription databases and resources available through
your school library and the Connecticut Education Network. These sources are available from
home with a password. Make sure you get a password list from your Library/Media Center staff.
Access Science
Annals of American History
Britannica Online
Bloom’s Literary Reference
EBSCO Databases:
History Reference Center
Literary Reference Center
PsycARTICLES
Science Reference Center
Student Research Center
GALENET Databases:
Biography Resource Center
History Resource Center US & World
New York Times - Jan. 1, 1995Literature Resource Center
Opposing Viewpoints
Historical New York Times (1851-03)
iConn
NoodleTools
Online Catalog (Destiny)
Oxford Databases:
American National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
Oxford Art Online
Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford Language Dictionaries
Oxford Reference Online
ABC-CLIO
World Geography
Daily Life (America & World)
Above resources are accessible at http://www.westonk12-ct.org/page.cfm?p=221
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III. WORKING WITH ONLINE SOURCES
The Web is becoming the first place many students look for information. Though we now have access to
an extraordinary amount of information, material found on the “free Web” should be carefully evaluated.
While the Web offers unprecedented access to breaking news, primary sources, multiple perspectives and
experts in every field, the fact is that anyone can publish on the Web. There is no editorial board. There
are no filters for the quality of information. If you are not careful, you may, in fact, be referencing the
work of a sixth grade class! When you use Web resources be especially critical about the source of the
materials; their accuracy, relevance, and timeliness; the audience for which the material was created; and
the credentials, the perspective, or bias of the author or institution responsible for the content.
For most research projects THE FREE WEB IS NOT ENOUGH. Most copyrighted resources are not
available on the free Web. Solid, equally convenient alternatives are provided by the many subscription
services available through your school and public library. Services like GaleNet, EBSCO, ABC-CLIO, and
iConn provide full-text online access to reference materials, journal articles, and government publications.
Traditional print sources cannot be replaced! It would be a shame to overlook the writings of Bruce
Catton when researching the Civil War, a well-reviewed biography of Elizabeth I for a history project, or
a convenient print collection of criticism on Mark Twain. Please check your school’s online library
catalog Destiny frequently for print materials to support your research.
Good research involves a balance of varied sources, carefully evaluated. Your teacher will be looking for
that balance as he or she reviews your Works Cited page.
Ask yourself the following questions as you evaluate the information you find on the Web and consider it
for use in your projects:
1. Affiliation/Bias/Purpose. Is the page associated with an institution, company, university, government
agency or other organization? Have you ever heard of the organization? Is it well respected? Does
the author’s affiliation with the organization appear to bias the information? Who is the intended
audience for this information?
2. Source. Who is the author? What are his/her credentials? Do you feel he/she is qualified to write on
this topic? Is he/she the creator of the information? If not, what are his/her sources? Do you believe
this information is reliable? Verifiable? Can you defend this source to your teacher?
3. Currency. When was the information on this page created? When was it last updated? Are your
information needs time sensitive?
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Use the domain of the Web page to help judge the validity of the information and identify any potential
bias. Remember:
.com = commercial site (commercial sites have varying credibility)
.gov = government site
.org = organization, often non-profit, site
.edu = school or university
(Determine whether the school source is K-12 or university and if a student or a professor
wrote the page)
.mil = military
.net = networked service provider
IV. THE RESEARCH PROCESS: (Before beginning, be sure to read/review all steps to familiarize
yourself with the research process)
STEP ONE: Establishing and Narrowing the Topic
Select a topic that is suitable for the assignment and one that interests you. Try to avoid topics
that are:
1. Too general. You will need a topic that can be covered in depth within the page limits of
your assignment.
2. Too personal. If you are excessively involved with a topic you may become too emotional
about it and fail to convince your reader that the thesis is valid.
3. Too familiar. You already know the subject well and you might become bored with it.
4. Too local. A topic that applies only to your school or community may be too difficult to
research.
5. Too complex. Be wary of topics that require a great deal of technical or scientific
terminology unless you are really familiar with that terminology.
STEP TWO: Preliminary References
You will now need to see if you can locate adequate sources to handle the topic you have chosen.
As a rule of thumb, for the preliminary “working source list” try to locate double the number of
sources that will actually be required for the assignment. Remember, some of the sources you
locate at this point will be repetitious and others will not be of use to you when you actually read
them. As you locate each source fill out a 3x5 index card in the proper documentation form. (See
Appendix VII) MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU HAVE USED THE STYLE OF CITATION
THAT YOUR TEACHER REQUIRES.
If you take the time to put the source in the correct documentation style early in the process, it will
save you time later when you have to prepare your final “Works Cited” page. If each source is on
a separate card, you will simply need to put your cards in alphabetical order and copy them to your
final “Works Cited” page.
If you cannot locate double the number of required sources, your topic may be too narrow.
Conversely, if you find that the number of sources available to you overwhelms you, this may be a
sign that your topic is too general.
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STEP THREE: Formulating the Thesis Statement
A “thesis statement” identifies your specific subject and your specific feeling(s) or opinion(s) about
that subject. The paper you write will “prove” your thesis; in other words provide supporting
evidence and argument for your feeling(s) or opinion(s) about the subject.
Here are some examples of thesis statements:
F. Scott Fitzgerald is an excellent example of a short story writer whose writings stem
from his own life and experiences.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was the result of a conspiracy.
Gun control should be regulated by the individual states rather than the
Federal Government.
Prescription drugs should not be advertised in the media.
STEP FOUR: Outlining
The outline is a blueprint of your paper. It presents the major topics (arguments in analytical
research) that will be discussed in the paper. The topics are presented in the same order in which
they will be discussed in the paper.
The preliminary outline (see sample, Appendix IX) establishes the main issues (arguments) that
you will research. Creating a preliminary outline at this point assists you in taking notes. You will
then know exactly what topics you are looking for in your sources because these topics will be the
major divisions of your outline.
The outline should be completed as soon as you have an overview of your topic so that your
research is directed to the actual topics that will be discussed in your paper. With a preliminary
outline in hand, you are less likely to take notes on material that will not be useful.
Note: This outline may well be changed (topics added or deleted) as you proceed with your
search.
STEP FIVE: Taking Notes and Using Quotations
A. WHAT KIND OF EVIDENCE WILL YOU USE?
You should try to use a combination of the following types of evidence:
1. Facts/statistics. Facts are verifiable pieces of information. Statistics are
number facts.
2. Opinions. Opinions are judgments or conclusions that are not completely
verifiable. Opinions of experts in a field are stronger evidence than opinions of
ordinary people.
This becomes particularly important when choosing
electronic sources.
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B. HOW DO YOU TAKE NOTES?
You may take notes in the following forms:
1. Notes on facts/statistics. When you take notes dealing with important facts or
statistics, use as few words as possible. Avoid complete sentences: instead, list
the information or facts in the shortest form possible.
2. Opinion notes. When you borrow an author’s opinion, you may use either the
paraphrase or quotation note:
a) Paraphrase. A paraphrase is a retelling of the author’s opinions using
your own words. The paraphrase normally follows the order of the
author’s ideas and is usually about as long as the original material.
b) Quotations. Writing down the exact words used by an author should be
done sparingly. Avoid copying long quotations. A quotation should be
used only when you feel the author’s words are particularly impressive.
c) Summaries. After reading a number of articles on the same subject,
organize the information in your own words and draw your own
conclusions.
NoodleTools provides a handy online note card feature to record and organize your information
C. WHAT SHOULD YOU AVOID IN TAKING NOTES?
1. Repetition. Do not take notes on the same piece of information more than once.
2. The obvious. Do not take notes on that which you already know or that which is
general information.
3. Imbalance. Do not take so many notes from one source that your paper becomes
almost a report on that one source.
4. Overlooking page numbers. Do not forget to record the page number of the source
where you found the evidence.
D. QUOTATIONS
A quotation can be a single word or an entire paragraph. Choose quotations carefully, keep
them as brief as possible, and use them only when they are necessary. When you do quote
material directly, be sure that the capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are the same as that
in the original work. If you make any changes in a direct quotation they must be clearly
marked by either (1) enclosing the changes in brackets [like this] or (2) enclosing the
explanation of a change in parentheses at the end of the quotation before closing punctuation
(like this.)
The majority of your notes (approximately 75%) should be facts/statistics or paraphrased
opinions. Avoid taking all your notes in quotation form! Remember if you copy more than
four consecutive words from an author, you must use quotation marks. Generally a colon is
used to introduce quotations set off from the text.
Short Quotations: If a quotation is four typed lines or fewer, work it into the body of your
paper and enclose it in quotation marks.
Long Quotations: Quotations of more than four typed lines should be set off from the rest
of the writing (from left margin only) by indenting each line 10 spaces and double spacing
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the material. When quoting two or more paragraphs, indent the first line of each paragraph
three additional spaces. Do not use additional quotation marks at the beginning of
additional paragraphs.
NOTE: After the final punctuation mark of the quotation, leave two spaces before you cite
the parenthetical reference.
Quoting Poetry: When quoting up to three lines of poetry, use quotation marks and work
the lines into your writing. Use a forward slash (/) to show where each line of the poem
ends. For quotations of four lines or more, use quotation marks and indent each line 10
spaces (and double-space the same as the rest of the text.) Do not use additional quotation
marks at the beginning of each line.
Partial Quotations: If you want to leave out part of the quotation, use an ellipsis to signify
the omission. An ellipsis (…) is three periods with a space before and after each one.
NOTE: Anything you take out of a quotation should not change the author’s original
meeting.
E. PLAGIARISM /ACADEMIC HONESTY
PLAGIARISM results when you use the words and/or ideas of an author as if they were your
own. When you borrow someone else’s words and ideas without giving proper credit, you are
being dishonest. Plagiarism includes:
1. Turning in another person’s paper as your own work.
2. Using another person’s ideas without giving proper credit.
3. Copying an article from a book, journal, magazine, or electronic source and turning it
in as your own. This includes pictures, graphs, charts, tables, cartoons, etc.
4. Using parts or part of an article from a book, magazine, journal, or electronic source
without documentation to identify the original source.
5. Using any direct quotation(s) without identifying the original source.
Any plagiarism, intentional or not, casts doubt on the honesty of all your statements.
Plagiarism is considered stealing and disciplinary action my result.
(See Student Handbook, ACADEMIC HONESTY/PLAGIARISM,)
F. DOCUMENTING SOURCES
What is Documentation? Nearly all research builds on previous research. You should seek to
build on the work of previous writers and researchers. Research requires that when you borrow
information, ideas, opinions, or quotations from another source, you give credit to that source.
This process of giving credit whenever you draw on another work is called documentation.
What Needs to be Documented? Generally you will need to give credit to everything in your
paper that you have taken from an outside source in a list entitled “Works Cited” (MLA) or
“References” (APA) (Instructor’s choice.) All sources that have been cited (documented)
within the paper will be included in this list and placed at the end of the paper. Examples
include:
1. Quotations – using four or more consecutive words from the source.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Facts (including statistics) – that are not general knowledge. **
Ideas – even if you agree with the idea but did not think of it until you read it.
Opinions – even when paraphrased.
Graphics – photos, clip art, graphs, charts, maps, etc.
Audio – Sound bytes, files, etc.
Video – Clips, files, etc.
** You will have to decide what general knowledge is and what is not. For example, you
would not need to document the fact that George Washington was the first president of the
United States because that is general knowledge. Likewise you would not need to
document any fact that appears in all (or most of) the sources. For example, you would not
need to document the fact that George Washington was born in Westmoreland County,
Virginia, in 1732 because you would find this information in any source that presented
background information on Washington, and the fact is not disputed.
How Do You Document? You will use the documentation style chosen by your teacher,
usually MLA (Modern Language Association) format or, less often, APA (American
Psychological Association) format. The purpose of documentation is to inform your reader
of the source of your information or evidence, including the exact page(s) where the
information was found.
Documentation is done both within the body of your paper (parenthetical referencing) and
at the end of your paper. Within the paper, references are documented using parentheses
showing author and page number. EXAMPLE, (Smith 42). At the end of your paper will
be your “Works Cited” (MLA) or “References”(APA) page listing every source used in the
writing of your paper.
This booklet focuses on the MLA style of documentation. MLA recommends procedures
for documenting an extensive variety of sources, including such non-print materials as
films, television programs, interviews, computer software, and online sources. Rules and
Sample Entries can be found in Appendix I of this booklet. See also the Sample Works
Cited page on page 40, and Parenthetical Referencing MLA Style in Appendix III.
STEP SIX: The Final Outline
Once you have taken notes on all your sources, you will create your final outline. The final
outline should include not only the topics (arguments in analytical research) of your paper but
also the sub-topics that will be discussed to explain the major topics (or to prove each
argument valid in analytical research.) The subtopics will be presented as “A, B, C” under
Roman numerals. Your instructor may require you to include descriptions of your evidence in
this final outline. These would be included as 1s, 2s, and 3s…under each subtopic.
The divisions for your outline should be relatively balanced in the number of topics and
subtopics that will be discussed and likewise relatively balanced in the amount of evidence per
sub-topic.
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The topics in the final outline should be presented in the order that will be most effective.
Some common organizational patterns are:
Chronological
Order of importance
Cause and effect
Problem/solution
STEP SEVEN: The Rough Draft
With your final outline and your notes in hand, you will be ready to write the paper itself. Follow
your outline exactly as you have organized it. If you have changed your mind about the
organization, you will need to change your outline. Remember, as you write this paper follow the
guidelines for writing a good formal essay and be certain to revise and edit.
For additional assistance in the actual writing of the paper, refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers
of Research Papers, 7th ed., which can be found in your Library/Media Center.
STEP EIGHT: Revising and Editing
Revising includes reviewing structure, logic and content.
Editing includes reviewing grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sequence structure.
STEP NINE: The Final Copy
You are now ready to prepare the final copy of the paper. The format of your final copy is
dependent on the preference of your instructor. The paper should be as carefully and neatly
prepared as possible and will generally include the following parts:
1. Title Page. MLA style places your name, your instructor’s name, the class/period, and the
date the paper is submitted (in that order) at the top left hand margin of the page, adhering
to the one-inch margin rule. APA style uses a separate title page, with all information
centered on the title page.
2. Final Outline. The outline follows the title page and serves as a table of contents. The
outline is included only if required by the instructor.
3. Body of the Paper. The pages of the body should be numbered consecutively. Begin
numbering the paper on the first page. Put your last name followed by the page number in
the right hand corner of each page, ½-inch below the top edge of the paper. DO NOT
LABEL OR SEPARATE YOUR INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION FROM THE
BODY OF THE PAPER. Write or type on only one side of each piece of paper. Use a
one-inch margin on all sides of the page. Begin the first page at the left hand margin oneinch from the top of the page. If you type the paper, double-space the body of the paper.
Do NOT add an extra double space between paragraphs.
4. “Works Cited” or “References” Page. All works consulted and cited must be documented
on a separate page(s) to be placed at the end of the paper. All entries must be listed
alphabetically by author or editor’s last name, or by first word of the title. Double space,
both within and between all entries. Begin each entry at the left margin and indent five
spaces or tab ½-inch in the second and any subsequent lines. This page will be entitled
“References” or “Works Cited,” depending on instructor preference. The heading should
be centered one inch from the top of the page. Double space between title and first entry.
See page 40.
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STEP TEN: Proofreading
Proofread your paper carefully and, if possible, have someone else also proofread it. MAKE
CERTAIN THAT YOU KEEP A COPY OF THE FINAL PAPER UNTIL THE ORIGINAL
IS GRADED. Also keep all note cards and your notes. This is proof that YOU have done
the work.
STEP ELEVEN: Publishing Final Copy
Prepare a final copy of the research paper. The research paper should be neatly written in
ink, typed, or word-processed. Proofread to check for errors. Any additional corrections should
be made.
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SELF ASSESSMENT CHECK LIST
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Step Four
Step Five
Step Six
Step Seven
Step Eight
Step Nine
Step Ten
Step Eleven
Have you followed the process? Review the following check list.
Established and narrowed the topic.
Used adequate sources and properly cited them.
Formulated a thesis statement.
Developed a preliminary outline.
Taken adequate notes and avoided plagiarism by using
proper documentation.
Created final outline.
Written a rough draft.
Revised and edited the rough draft.
Written a final copy.
Proofread the copy.
Published final copy. Kept rough draft, notes, and
back-up copy.
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APPENDIX I: MLA Style for “Works Cited” Page
The Modern Language Association (MLA) has updated its guidelines for college and high school writers.
What follows reflects the major changes in MLA style in the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook for
Writers of Research Papers (2009.)
NoodleTools now uses MLA 7th edition style and will convert old citations to the new format. EasyBib
has also updated.
RULES AND SAMPLE ENTRIES: BOOKS
Arrange the information into three units; each is followed by a period and one space:
1. Author’s name, last name first.
2. Title and subtitle, italicized.
3. City of publication; publisher, year of publication.
4. Medium of publication (Print, Web, Radio, Television, CD, Audiocassette, Film, Videocassette,
DVD, Performance, Lecture, or PDF file.)
A Book by One Author
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York: Little Brown, 2005. Print.
Two or More Books by the Same Author
Gladwell, Malcolm. Blink. New York: Little Brown, 2005. Print.
- - - -. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. New York: Back Bay
Books, 2002. Print.
A Book by Two or Three Authors
Solomon, Gwen, and Lynne Schrum. Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools. Eugene, OR: International
Society for Technology in Education, 2007. Print.
Schwartz, David, Steve Ryan, and Fred Wostbrock. The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows. New
York: Facts on File, 1995. Print.
A Book by Four or More Authors
Gilman, Sandor, et al. Hysteria Beyond Freud. Berkeley: U of California Press, 1993. Print.
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A Book with an Editor and No Author
Mankoff, Robert, ed. The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker. New York: Black
Dog & Leventhal, 2004. Print.
A Book by a Corporate Author
United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration.
Protecting Your Children Against Serious Diseases: Making Sure They Get All Their
“Shots”. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Food and Drug Administration, 2002. Print.
A Book by an Anonymous Author
New York Public Library American History Desk Reference. New York: Macmillan,
1997. Print.
A Book with an Author and an Editor
Toomer, Jean. Cane. Ed. Darwin T. Turner. New York: Norton, 1988. Print.
A Work in an Anthology
Palkhivaloa, Alison Farah. “LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.)” Drugs and
Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Ed. Stacey L. Blachford and
Kristine Krapp. Detroit: Gale, 2002. 252 – 63. Print.
Two or More Works in the Same Anthology
Provide a separate, complete entry for the anthology:
Craig, Patricia, ed. The Oxford Book of Travel Stories. Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.
Then list each selection separately, giving author, title and cross-reference to the
anthology:
Desai, Anita. “Scholar and Gypsy.” Craig 251-73.
Malouf, David. “The Kyogle Line.” Craig 390-96.
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An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or Afterword
Sears, Barry. Afterword. The Jungle. By Upton Sinclair. New York: Signet, 2001.
343 - 47. Print.
A Multivolume Work
If you are using one volume of a multivolume work, cite the volume number you used.
Rampersad, Arnold. The Life of Langston Hughes. 2nd ed. Vol.2. New York: Oxford University Press,
2002. Print.
If you are using two or more volumes of a multivolume work, cite the total number of volumes in the book
set.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Oxford Sherlock Holmes. Ed. Owen Dudley Edwards. 9 vols.
New York: Oxford UP, 1993. Print.
An Edition Other Than the First
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Riverside Chaucer. Ed. Larry D. Benson. 3rd ed. Boston:
Houghton, 1987. Print.
A Book in a Series
Bucher, Greta. Daily Life in Imperial Russia . Westport CT: Greenwood, 2008. Print. Daily Life
Through History.
A Republished Book
Hughes, Langston. Black Misery. 1969. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
A Book Published before 1900
Field, Kate. The History of Bell’s Telephone. London. 1878. Print.
A Book with a Translator
Mitchell, Stephen, trans. Gilgamesh: A New English Version. New York: Free Press, 2004. Print.
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An Unpublished Dissertation (note title in quotations)
Kelly, Mary. “Factors Predicting Hospital Readmission of Normal Newborns.” Diss. U of
Michigan, 2001.
A Published Dissertation
Fullerton, Matilda. Women’s Leadership in the Public Schools: Towards a Feminist
Educational Leadership Model. Diss. Washington State U, 2001. Ann Arbor:
UMI, ATT 3023579. Print.
Reference Books: Dictionary or Encyclopedia – unsigned (or signed) article
When citing familiar reference books, especially those that frequently appear in new editions, do not give
full publication information. List only the edition (if stated) and the year of publication.
“Azimuthal Equidistant Projection.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.
11th ed., 2003. Print.
If the article is signed, give the author with last name first, as in standard book format. If
a reference book arranges articles alphabetically, you may omit volume and page numbers.
Gundersen, Joan R. “Colonial Life In America.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2009. Print.
When citing less familiar reference books, however, especially those that have appeared in only one
edition, give full publication information.
“Tsunami.” UXL Encyclopedia of Weather and Natural Disasters: Optical Effects to Wildlife. Ed.
Anaxos, Inc. Vol. 4. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2008. 565-587. Print. 5 vols.
RULES AND SAMPLE ENTRIES: Articles in Periodicals, Journals, & Newspapers
A periodical is a publication that appears regularly at fixed intervals. Each entry
contains:
1) Author or editor.
2) Title of the article, in quotation marks with a period inside quotation marks.
3) Name of the periodical, italicized, no period.
4) Must have both volume number and issue number for all scholarly journals.
5) Date of publication (year in parentheses for scholarly journal,) colon.
17
6) Month and year for popular magazine, abbreviate except May, June, July.
7) Page numbers, or range of pages, on which article appears.
8) Medium of publication (Print, Web.)
Put titles of articles in quotation marks; italicize the titles of magazines, journals, and newspapers. For
dates requiring a month, abbreviate all months except May, June, and July. Add the medium at the end of
the entry.
For articles appearing on consecutive pages, provide the range of pages. When an article does not appear
on consecutive pages, give the number of the first page followed by a plus sign: 32+.
An Article in a Scholarly Journal with Continuous Pagination
Letvin, Norman. “Moving Forward in HIV Vaccine Development.” Science 326.27 (2009):
1196-1198. Print.
An Article in a Scholarly Journal that Numbers Pages in Each Issue Separately
Barthelme, Fredrick. “Architecture.” Kansas Quarterly 13.3-4 (1981): 77-80. Print.
A Signed Article from a Monthly or Bimonthly Magazine
Stone, Matt. “In the Beginning: Motor Trend Created Car of the Year.” Motor Trend Jan. 2010:
107-111. Print.
A Signed Article from a Weekly or Biweekly Magazine
Lipton, Mike and Oliver Jones. “Geek God.” People 22 Nov. 2004: 99-100. Print.
A Signed Article from a Daily Newspaper
Cohan, Patricia. “The Haunts of Miss Highsmith.” New York Times 11 Dec. 2009, late ed.: C29+. Print.
A Signed Article from a Sunday Newspaper
Hennenberger, Melinda. “The Leonardo Cover-Up.” New York Times 21 Apr. 2002,
late ed., sec.6: 42+. Print.
An Editorial
Benjamin, Rich. “What Tiger Could Learn From Obama.” Editorial. USA Today 11 Dec. 2009:
21A. Print.
18
An Article Title Containing a Quotation or Title within a Quotation
Hurley, C. Harold. “Cracking the Secret Code in Oates’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where
Have You Been?’” Studies in Short Fiction 24 (1987): 62-66. Print.
A Review
Solomon, Deborah. “Commercial Art.” Rev. of Painting Below Zero: Notes on a Life in Art,
by James Rosenquist and David Dalton. New York Times Book Review 13 Dec. 2009:
12-13. Print.
An Abstract from Dissertation Abstracts or Dissertation Abstracts International
Kelly, Mary. “Factors Predicting Hospital Readmission of Normal Newborns.” Diss. U of
Michigan, 2001. DAI 62 (2001): 2283B.
SAMPLE ENTRIES: OTHER SOURCES
Government Document
United States. Cong. House. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Al-Qaeda: The
Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat. 109th Cong., 2nd sess. H. Rept. 615.
Washington: GPO, 2006. Print.
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The 9/11
Commission Report. New York: W.W. Norton, [2004.] Print.
Note: In cases where the publication date does not actually appear on the document,
place date in brackets if it is known.
Pamphlet (unsigned)
Washington, DC. New York: Trip Builder, 2000. Print.
Films, Radio and Television Programs
It’s a Wonderful Life. Dir. Frank Capra. Perf. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore,
and Thomas Mitchell. RKO, 1946. Film.
19
“Death and Society.” Narr. Joanne Silberner. Weekend Edition Sunday. Natl. Public. Radio.
WUWM, Milwaukee, 25 Jan. 1998. Radio.
“The Phantom of Corleone.” Narr. Steve Kroft. Sixty Minutes. CBS. WCBS, New York, 10 Dec.
2006. Television.
If you want to emphasize the contribution of a particular individual, begin with that
person’s name.
Hitchcock, Alfred, dir. Psycho. Perf . Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Galvin, and
Janet Leigh. Universal, 1960. Film.
Cite a videocassette and DVD like a film, but include the original release date, when it is relevant, before
the name of the distributor.
Eastwood, Clint, perf. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Dir. Sergio Leone. 1966.
MGM/UA, 1998. DVD.
Mifune, Toshiro, perf. Rashomon. Dir. Akira Kurosawa. 1950. Home Vision, 2001. Videocassette.
Performances
Hairspray. Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Music by Marc Shaiman. Lyrics by
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Perf. Kathy Brier and Harvey Fierstein. Neil Simon Theatre,
New York. 5 May 2004. Performance.
South African Suite. Chor. Arthur Mitchell, Augustus Van Heerder, and Laveen Naidu.
Dance Theatre of Harlem. Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago. 1 June 2002. Performance.
If you are citing the contribution of a particular individual or group, begin with the name.
Culkin, Kieran, perf. Suburbia. By Eric Bogosian. Second Stage Theatre, New York. 16 Sept.
2006. Performance.
Recordings
The Mamas and the Papas. Gold. Comp. Andy McKaie. Geffen, 2005. CD.
20
Works of Art
Rodin, Auguste. The Gates of Hell. Musee Rodin, Paris. Sculpture.
Work of Art from a Book
Smithson, Robert. Spiral Jetty. April 1970. Sculpture. Great Salt Lake. Artoday. By Edward
Lucie-Smith. London: Phaidon Press, 1995. 112. Print.
Maps and Charts
“Connecticut.” Map. 2006. The Road Atlas & Travel Guide. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2006. 34-35. Print.
Japanese Fundamentals. Chart. Hauppauge: Barron, 1992. Print.
Cartoons and Comic strips
Roberts, Victoria. Cartoon. New Yorker 7 Dec. 2009: 81. Print.
Summers, Dana. “Bound & Gagged.” Comic strip. Connecticut Post 14 Dec. 2002: B8. Print.
Advertisements
Air Canada. Advertisement. CNN. 15 May 1998. Television.
Euphoria by Calvin Klein. Advertisement. Esquire Dec. 2009: 33. Print.
Head and Shoulders. Advertisement. Newsweek 17 Mar. 2008: 2. Print.
Published and Unpublished Letters
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “To Ernest Hemingway.” 1 June 1934. The Letters of F. Scott
Fitzgerald. Ed. Andrew Trumbull. New York: Scribner’s, 1963: 308-10. Print.
Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Letter to George Eliot. 25 May 1869. Berg Collection. New
York Public Library.
Interviews
Breslin, Jimmy. Interview by Neal Conan. Talk of the Nation. Natl. Public Radio.
WBUR, Boston. 26 Mar. 2002. Radio.
21
Gordimer, Nadine. Interview. New York Times 10 Oct. 1991, late ed.: C25. Print.
Lansbury, Angela. Interview. Off-Camera: Conversations with the Makers of Prime-Time
Television. By Richard Levinson and William Link. New York: Plume-NAL, 1986.
72-86. Print.
Wiesel, Elie. Interview by Ted Koppel. Nightline. ABC. WABC, New York. 18 Apr.
2002. Television.
Interviews that you conducted
Pei, I. M. Personal interview. 22 July 2006.
Reed, Ishmael. Telephone interview 10 Dec. 2007.
Personal photographs (for your scanned personal images!)
(Begin with a description of the photo. Do not use italics or quotation marks. Indicate who took the photo
and the date it was taken.)
Grandma in her Army Nurse Uniform. 4 July 1965. Personal photograph by Izzy Moore.
Lectures, Speeches, and Addresses
Hyman, Earle. Reading of Shakespeare’s Othello. Symphony Space, New York. 28 Mar.
1994. Reading.
Obama, Barack. Keynote speech. Democratic Natl. Conv. Boston. 27 July 2004.
Keynote address.
22
RULES AND SAMPLE ENTRIES: ONLINE SOURCES
The Modern Language Association (MLA) has updated its guidelines for college and high school writers.
What follows accounts for the style changes in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th
edition, 2009.
Noodle Tools now uses MLA 7th edition style and will convert old citations to the new format. EasyBib
has also updated.
Note: Not all Web pages will include all the information recommended below for inclusion in citations.
If a piece of information is not available, simple leave it out. Include as much information as you can
to lead your reader back to the source and if little information on a website is available, credibility of
that website may be an issue.
1. Name of the author, editor, compiler or translator of the source (if available,) last name first, in
alphabetical order, and followed by an abbreviation (such as ed.) if appropriate.
2. Title of article, short story, poem, or similar short work, database or periodical (in quotation
marks,) or title of a posting to a discussion, list or forum (in quotation marks.)
3. Title of book (italicized.)
4. Name of the editor, compiler, or translator of the text (if relevant and if not cited earlier,)
proceeded by the appropriate abbreviation, such as Ed.
5. Publication information for any print version of the source.
6. Title of Internet site (e.g., scholarly project, database, periodical, professional or personal site
italicized) or, for a professional or personal site with no title, use a description such as Homepage.
7. Name of editor of site (if given.)
8. Versions number of the source (if not part of the title) or, for all journals give both volume and
issue numbers.
9. For a source from an online database (such as History Resource Center-US, Oxford Reference
Online, or PsycARTICLES,) give the name of the database.
10. The number range or total number of pages, paragraphs, or other sections, if they are numbered
online.
11. Name of Web site's publisher or sponsor(s), typically located in the copyright statement at the
bottom of the site's pages.
12. Medium of publication (Web.)
13. Date of access.
Note: Although the new 7th edition of MLA no longer requires URLs in citations, your teachers
will likely require them. The examples given in this stylebook include the now optional URLs. If
the URL for a database is lengthy, you may truncate the address to lead to the database's search
page.
23
Websites
Hacker, Diana, and Barbara Fister. Research and Documentation Online. Bedford St. Martin's,
2009. Web. 21 Aug. 2009. <http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/>.
Smith, Nicholas D., and Thomas Brickhouse. "Plato (427-347 BCE)." Internet
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. IEP, 9 May 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.iep.utm.edu/plato/>.
Hagan, Caitlin. “Extreme Diets: Life on 800 Calories a Day.” CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 15
Dec. 2009. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. <http://www.cnn.com>.
Articles from Databases
Magazine Article
Mullins, Luke. "Household Formation: 2009 Housing Head Wind." U.S. News & World
Report Online 16 Dec. 2008: n. pag. General OneFile. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.
<http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=s1570>.
Ferguson, Niall. "The Year the World Really Changed." Newsweek 2009: n. pag.
History Reference Center. Web. 6 Jan. 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db= khh&AN=45137674&site=src-live>.
Journal Article
Cicero, David C, Amee J Epler, and Kenneth J Sher. "Are There Developmentally Limited Forms of Bipolar
Disorder?" Journal of Abnormal Psychology 118.3 (2009): 431-447. PsycARTICLES. Web. 7 Jan.
2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=abn118-3-431&site=ehost-live>.
Sorensen, Theodore C. "JFK's Strategy of Peace." World Policy Journal 20.3 (2003): 2-5.
History Resource Center: U.S. Web. 7 Jan. 2010. <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC>.
24
Chapter or Section Reprinted in Database
May, Jill. "Defense of To Kill a Mockingbird." Censored Books: Critical Viewpoints. Ed. Nicholas J
Karolides, John M Kean, and Lee Burress. N.p.: Scarecrow Press, 1993. 476-484. Vol. 2 of Novels
for Students. Literature Resource Center. Web. 7 Jan. 2010.
<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=LitRC&u=s2051>.
Encyclopedia Article
"Pop Art." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 7
Jan. 2010. <http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9060830>.
Newspaper Article
Bender, Marylin. "Edie Pops Up as Newest Superstar." New York Times 26 July 1965: 26.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Web. 7 Jan. 2010. <http://hn.bigchalk.com>.
e-Book (subscription Database)
Laird, Frank N. "Alternative Energy ." Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics.
Ed. Carl Mitcham. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 56-59.
Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 7 Jan. 2010.
<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=s0003>.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Other Web Sources
e-Book (free)
Kipling, Rudyard. Jungle Book. New York: The Century Co, 1920. Google Books. Web. 18 Dec. 2009.
<http://books.google.com>.
25
Section of a free e-Book
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.” Nathaniel Hawthorne. Ed. Perry Bliss. New York:
Doubleday, 1909. 1-20. Little Masterpieces. Google Books. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
<http://books.google.com>.
Textbook Online
Spielvogel, Jackson J. World History. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. Glencoe. Web. 18 Dec. 2009.
<http://www.glencoe.com/ose/showbook.php>.
Blog Post
"Bigfoot
Needs a Permit." The Huffington Post. HuffingtonPost.com, Inc., 5 Jan.
2010. Web. 6 Jan. 2010. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com>.
Wiki Entry
"Weston High School (Connecticut)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 4 Dec. 2009.
Web. 6 Jan. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org>.
Newspaper Article
Medina, Jennifer. “Auditioning Their Hearts Out, for High School.” New York Times 18 Dec. 2009:
n. pag. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. <http://www.nytimes.com>.
Magazine Article
Ramzy, Austin. "The Chinese Worker." Time. Time Inc., 16 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 Jan.
2010. <http://www.time.com>.
Online Image
Da Vinci, Leonardo. Mona Lisa. 1503-1505. Art Finale. Web. 17 May 2004
< http://www.artfinale.com >.
26
Online Photograph
Arbus, Diane. Identical Twins, Roselle, NJ. 1967. Photography Now. Web. 8 Jan.
2010. <http://www.artphotogallery.org/02/artphotogallery/photographers/
diane_arbus_01.html#>.
Online Cartoon
Oaham, Jack. "Sarah Palin's Three Favorite Meats." Cartoon. US News.com. Tribune
Media Services, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. <http://www.usnews.com>.
Online Audio (radio)
Berkes, Howard. "Literary Larceny: A Book Thief Meets His Match." All Things Considered.
National Public Radio. WPKT, New Haven, 1 Jan. 2010.
NPR. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. <http://www.npr.org>.
Online Video Clip
Paula Deen Gets Hit with a Ham. YouTube. CBS Atlanta, 24 Nov. 2009. Web. 17
Dec. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com>.
A Girl's Life. 2009. PBS Video. Web. 6 Jan. 2010. <http://video.pbs.org/video/
1367248470/>.
Parenthetical References:
Normally, parenthetical references include the author's name and the page cited. Because electronic
documents rarely contain page numbers, in most instances your in-text citation will include only the
author's name, ex: (Smith.) If your electronic document has no author, use the title of the page. You may
use a shortened version of the title as long as it is distinct, for example: "Cloning".
If paragraphs in an electronic document are numbered, include that information, for example: “Smith
pars. 112-120” "Pars." is the standard abbreviation for paragraphs. Do not cite page numbers from
printouts; paginations vary with different printers and fonts.
27
APPENDIX II: APA Style for “References” Page
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association governs the APA style. This style is
used in the social sciences and business, and versions similar to it are used in the biological and the earth
sciences. The scientific community considers the year of publication as vital information, so they feature
it immediately after any named source. In some ways, APA and MLA styles are similar. Both require an
alphabetized list of sources and in-text parenthetical documentation of citations. Some major differences
between the two styles, especially APA's emphasis on date of publication, are reflected in the guidelines
and samples given below.
The APA method of documenting references differs from the MLA format in several ways:
1. Invert all authors' names and use initials instead of first names, use an ampersand (&) instead of
"and" with two or more authors, separate the names with commas, and use all authors' names; do
not use "et al."
2. Date of publication goes in parentheses immediately after the author's name.
3. Capitalize only the first word of the title, subtitle and any proper nouns.
4. Italicize titles of books, periodicals, microforms, and electronic publications.
5. Do not put quotation marks around titles of articles in periodicals; capitalize only the first word of
the title and subtitle.
6. Give the periodical title in full, in upper and lowercase letters: give the volume number of
journals, magazines, and newsletters.
7. Abbreviations “p.” and “pp." are used in certain situations.
8. The alphabetical list of works cited is called “References" in APA style.
GENERAL APA PRINT FORMS
The following selected forms and samples may be used as a guide to the APA style. For additional
instructions and examples see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th
edition, available in your School Library/Media Center. Use the following only as a reference.
Book with Author
Author, A. A. (1994). Title of work. Place: Publisher.
Part of a Book (e. g., book chapter) or Anthology
Author, A. A., Author B. B. (1994). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor
(Eds.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Place: Publisher.
28
Periodical
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (2003). Title of article. Title of Periodical,
xx, xxx-xxx.
Periodicals include items published on a regular basis: journals, magazines, scholarly newsletters, and so
on.
SAMPLE ENTRIES: PRINT REFERENCES
A Book by One Author
Petroski, H. (1985). To engineer is human: The role of failure in successful design.
New York: St. Martin's.
Two or More Books by the Same Author
Hirsch, E. D., Jr. (1977). The philosophy of composition. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
Hirsch, E.D., Jr. (1987). Cultural literacy: What every American needs to know.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
A Book by More than One Author
Belenky, M.F., B.M. Goldberger, N. R., & Torule, J.M., (1986).
Women’s ways of knowing: The development of self, voice, and mind. New
York: Basic Books.
A Work in Anthology
Thomas, L. (1987). A long line of cells. In W. Zinsser (Ed.), Inventing the truth:
The art and craft of memoir (pp.125-148). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
An Article in a Journal with Continuous Pagination
Fulwiler, T. (1984). How well does writing across the curriculum work? College
English, 46, 113-125.
29
An Article in a Journal That Numbers Pages in Each Issue Separately
Walker,J. (1988). The primary game. Wilson Quarterly, 12(1), 64-77.
An Article from a Weekly or Biweekly Periodical
McPhee, J. (1988, February 22). The control of nature: Cooling the lava. New Yorker.
43- 77.
An Article Title Containing a Quotation or Title within a Quotation
Hurley, C. Harold. (1987). Cracking the secret code in Oates's "Where are you going,
where have you been?" Studies in Short Fiction, 24, 62-66.
An Article from a Daily Newspaper
Darst, G. (1988, May 25). Environmentalists want hotels, concessions removed from U.S.
Parks. Boston Globe, p. 17.
GENERAL APA ONLINE FORMS
Online Document
Author, A. A. (2000). Title of the work. Retrieved month day, year, from source.
Online Periodical
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (2000).Title of article. Title of Periodical,
xx, xxx-xxx. Retrieved month day, year, from source.
SAMPLE ENTRIES: ONLINE REFERENCES
Internet Article Based on Print Source
The citation is done as if it were a paper article and then followed by a statement that identify the date
retrieved and source.
Sahelian, R. (1999, January). Achoo! [Electronic version]. Better Nutrition, 61, 24.
Retrieved September 17, 2001, from ProQuest.
30
Web page, no author, no date
GVU’s 8th WWW user survey. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2001, from
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-1997-10/
Chapter or Section in an Internet Document
Thompson, G. (2001). Youth coach handbook. In Joe soccer. Retrieved September 17,
2003, from http://www.joesoccer.com/menu.html
Web page, Government author
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (2001, March 14). Glacial habitat
restoration areas. Retrieved September 18, 2001 from http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/
org/land/wildlife/hunt/hra.htm
Company Information from a Subscription Database
Ripon Pickle Company Inc. [company profile]. (2003). Retrieved September 18, 2002
from Business and Company Resource Center.
Personal Communications
Personal communications such as e-mail messages, interviews, speeches, and telephone conversations are
usually not included in the “References” list of documents prepared in the APA format because such
information is not retrievable. See Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for
more info.
31
APPENDIX III: Parenthetical Referencing MLA Style
The newly recognized format for acknowledging borrowed information within your paper or project is
called parenthetical referencing, or textual documentation. No longer are footnotes used unless you need
to clarify or add some information. This type of documentation is necessary in both traditional paper and
multimedia presentation.
When Do I Document?
Use parenthetical referencing/textual documentation to cite a source whenever you:
• Use an original idea from one of your sources, whether you quote or paraphrase it.
• Summarize original ideas from one of your sources.
• Use factual information that is not common knowledge. Common knowledge is information that
recurs in many sources. If you are not certain it is common knowledge, cite to be safe.
• Quote directly from a source.
• Use a date or fact that might be disputed.
Usually only the author's last name and the page number or, in the absence of an author, the title
and the page number are cited. Do not use the word "page" or any abbreviations. Page numbers may be
omitted if the article is a one-page article or one in an encyclopedia arranged alphabetically. Page
numbers are also omitted when citing Web resources, which do not normally include pagination.
The purpose of this format is to give immediate source information without interrupting the flow
of the paper. Usually parenthetical citations are placed at the end of a sentence, but they may be placed in
the middle (see example 6). The academic world takes in-text documentation seriously. Inaccurate
documentation is as serious as having no documentation at all.
Rules for Using Parenthetical Referencing
1. Use the author's last name and give the page number in parentheses. Do not use "page" or abbreviations
for page, just write the number. In most cases you will be citing one or two pages, leading your reader to a
specific piece of information. Allow one space before the parentheses but none after it if a period follows.
EX: Thomas Hardy's Return of the Native is the penultimate example of coincidence
(Ellman 89).
2. If you are using more than one book by the same author, give the last name, comma, the title, and the
page.
EX: Animal imagery conveys the primitive, uncontrolled rage that the peasants feel. One
person "...had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth" (Dickens, Tale of Two Cities 3334).
3. If you identify the author and title in the text, just give the page number.
32
EX: In Jude the Obscure, Hardy depicts the heart-rending disappointment that Jude must
face: "...the spires of the Medieval buildings haunted his existence and at the same time
they beckoned him to call the pillars of learning his home" (9).
4. If there is no author, give the title and the page number.
EX: Some critics, including Christopher Ricks, feel that Thomas Hardy overuses trite
coincidences to generate the action in his novels (Spectator 5).
5. If you are quoting a direct quotation from a secondary source, you must identify it as such.
EX: According to Derek Montana, "...the critic's worst enemy is himself" (qtd. in Paris
87).
6. If a quotation or information appears in the middle of your own idea, then insert the documentation
immediately after the quotation.
EX: Derek Montana's idea, "...the critic's worst enemy is himself" (qtd. in Paris 87),
parallels the idea that interpretation reveals one's own biases.
7. If the quoted material exceeds two lines in your text, you should either:
a) indent both margins of the quotation (and single space if possible on your word
processor)
b) or indent both margins, single space, and use a smaller font.
8. Web documents generally do not have fixed page numbers or any kind of section numbering. If your
source lacks numbering, omit numbers from your in-text documentation and use only the main entry,
author, or title in parentheses.
EX: A recent CNN.com review noted that the book's purpose was "to teach cultures that
are both different from and similar to world status quo" (Allen).
If your source includes fixed page numbers or section numbering (such as numbering of paragraphs), cite
the relevant numbers. Give the appropriate abbreviation before the numbers (Moulthrop, pars. 19-20). In
this case "pars." is used for numbered paragraphs. For a Web document, the page numbers of a printout
should NOT be cited, because the pagination may vary in different printouts.
Specific Examples
Corporate or Committee Authorship
It is best to include the name of the agency within the text.
EX: The Thomas Hardy Literary Society has called Hardy the "Victorian-modern father of
literature" (34).
33
Work in a Multiple Volume
It is unnecessary to use the word "volume" or the abbreviation if you identify by both the volume and the
page number. The order is volume number first then a colon, a space, and then the page(s).
EX: Dvorak is nicknamed "Old Borax," but it is never mentioned by some critics (Hall 5:
87-88).
Magazine Article
Give the author if available; otherwise use the title of the magazine.
EX: Jude can be surveyed from a Biblical point of view as a "martyr" (New Yorker 16).
Plays
Generally you use Arabic numbers for both acts and scenes, but you may still use Roman numerals for
acts and lower case numbers for scenes. List line numbers last and separate with a colon.
EX: In Julius Caesar perhaps the most quoted line comes from Caesar: "Et, tu, Brute!"
(3:1:23).
Poetry
For short quotations, separate lines of poetry with / marks and list line numbers as if they were page
numbers.
EX: "When I was half the man I was/And serve me right as the preachers warn,"
("Lament" 37-38).
For quotations longer than three lines, preserve the form and spacing of the original.
Web Page
Web documents generally do not have fixed page numbers or any kind of section numbering. If your
source lacks numbering, omit numbers from your parenthetical references.
EX: "The Human Genome Initiative is a worldwide research effort that has the goal of
analyzing the structure of human DNA and determining the location of the estimated
100,000 human genes” (National Human Genome Research Homepage).
Do not cite the page numbers of a printout. Pagination varies depending on fonts and
printers.
Newspapers
List the author if given, otherwise list the newspaper title without any definite or indefinite articles that
begin it (New York Times not The New York Times) and the page number.
EX: According to the New York Times, Jesse Jackson appears to have a very decent chance
to win the Democratic nomination for President (Kehoe C4).
34
Encyclopedia
Treat encyclopedias like books. If an author's name is given, use it and the page number. If no author's
name is given, use the editor's name. If neither is given, use the title of the encyclopedia.
EX: Whale communication research started in the late 1950's by Stanford University
graduate students who were studying mating calls (Davis 78).
Visual Material (multimedia presentations, etc.)
These materials must be documented. After each graph, chart, or table write: Source: then give complete
bibliographic information. End with a colon, space, then the page number.
TABLE 1
Violation of the Privacy Act
Violated
Not Violated
Tapping Telephone Lines
35%
65%
Mail Broken Into
05%
95%
SOURCE: Wesley, Harding. Databanks Keeping Track. New
York: Quarterly, (1988): 89. Print.
Or label the visual, add a title and give the artist or author and page. Further details will be in the Works
Cited pages.
Note: If you are presenting through a PowerPoint or another multimedia program, your instructor may
request that parenthetical references be included in text of the appropriate slide, and/or with full source
citations given in the closing slide or in the form of a hard copy “Works Cited” page.
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APPENDIX IV: Comparing MLA and APA Parenthetical Referencing Format
MLA and APA Parenthetical Referencing styles are very similar. Because the APA style focuses on
recency of information, the date of the research is included in the citation. The APA citation does include
a “p.” or “pp.” indicating “page” or “pages.” The MLA format does not include the date, nor does it
include a “p.” or “pp.” APA also uses a comma to separate the author’s name from the page number,
unlike MLA. MLA and APA internal citation formats.
Examples:
1. When the author’s name IS NOT USED in the text, the citation should look like
MLA:
(Baumrind 34).
APA
(Baumrind, 1968, p. 34).
MLA
if author is unknown, use either the complete title or a short form of the title as
given in alphabetical listing on Works Cited page.
(NY Public 21). For book:
(“Decade” 26). For periodical
APA
if author is unknown, use the first word or two of the title
(Oxford, 1998, p. 243). for book
(“Right,” 1976, p. 101). for periodical
2. When the author’s name IS USED in the text, do not repeat it in the internal citation.
MLA
Baumrind (34) insisted that the subjects in Milgrim’s study should have been fully
informed of the possible effects on them.
APA
Baumrind (1968, p. 34) insisted that the subjects in Milgrim’s study should have
been fully informed of the possible effects on them.
When citing electronic sources internally, use the same format as for printed materials for both MLA and
APA style: Last name of author or editor, if known; date for only APA; and page, with comma (APA,) or
without comma (MLA.)
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APPENDIX V: Common Symbols and Meanings
Ab
Abbreviation
Agr
Agreement
Amb
Ambiguous
Apos
Apostrophe
Awk
Awkward writing
Case
Incorrect Case of a pronoun
Cap
Capital letter needed
CF
Comma fault
Dang
Dangling modifier
Dneg
Double negative
Frag
Fragment
K
Awkward writing
L
Lower case
Org
Weak organization
Par
Lack of parallel structure
Red
Redundancy
Ref
Reference
R-O
Run-on sentence
Sp
Spelling (word may also be circled)
T
Tense of verb
W
Incorrect word choice
Wordy
More words than necessary
¶
Begin new paragraph
^
Omission
Join together
/
Separate
Transpose
( )
Parenthetical documentation
needed
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APPENDIX VI: Sample Forms
Sample Note Card (lined index cards recommended)
Source
Sub-Topic
Page Number
+ Write one “telling fact”
~ list specific details about the fact
~ be accurate
~ be brief
~ use telegraphic form only – write phrases in your own words
~ no complete sentences unless it is a direct quote
Sample Source Card
Source
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. N.p.: Modern
Language Association of America, 2009. MLA. Web. 17 Sept.
2009.<http://mlahandbook.org/private/fragment/private_index>.
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APPENDIX VII: Anatomy of a URL
http://www.westonk12ct.org/Athletics/whssports.html#handouts
http://
Protocol
www.westonk12-ct.org
Web Server/Host Name
/Athletics/
Directory Path
whssports.html
File Name
#handouts
Named Anchor
Protocol
A protocol is a means of communication between computers. The most common protocol
on the web is the hypertext transfer protocol (http). Most web addresses begin with this
one. Another common protocol is mailto:, e.g., mailto:[email protected], which
is pretty self-explanatory.
Web Server
This next part identifies the web server on which the page exists. The server address
holds several clues. If we read the one used in the example above from right to left, we
can tell that it's located at a non-profit organization (.org), namely Weston Public Schools
in Connecticut (.westonk12ct), and probably located in the athletic department
(Athletics).
Path & File Name
This part tells the web browser where to look on the web server to find the specified file.
Named Anchor
This part, which is used only occasionally, tells the browser to jump to a specific (named)
spot within a web page.
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Works Cited
“APA Documentation.” Writing Center U of Wisconsin - Madison. UW-Madison Writing
Center, 2009. Web. 8 Jan. 2010. <http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/
DocAPA.html>.
“Code of Conduct: Academic Honesty/Plagiarism.” Weston High School 2009-2010
Handbook. Weston High School, 2009. Web. 8 Jan. 2010.
<http://www.westonk12-ct.org/uploaded/schools/WHS/Handbook_20092010.pdf>.
Hacker, Diana. “MLA List of Works Cited.” Research and Documentation Online.
Bedford/St. Martin’s, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2010. <http://www.dianahacker.com/
resdoc/>.
- - -. “What’s New in MLA Style?” We’re up to Date with MLA. Bedford/St. Martin’s,
n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2009. <http://pages.mail.bfwpub.com/whatsnewinMLA/>.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language
Association of America, 2009. Print.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association, 2001. Print.
Valenza, Joyce Kasman. “MLA Bibliographic Style--A Brief Guide.” Springfield
Township High School Virtual Library. Tangient LLC, 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2010.
<http://springfieldcitation.wikispaces.com/>.
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