MLA 8th Edition:
Journal Article from an Online Database, Indirect Quote, and Block Quote
30
TLC / College of the Canyons
To Cite a Journal Article from an Online Database:
In the Text of the Essay:
Be sure to use quotation marks, a signal phrase that includes the author’s name, and a parenthetical citation with
a page number (if the page number is available).
Sample:
Matthew Strutner et. al describe Major League Soccer’s strategy for increasing the popularity of soccer in the
U.S., including its “financing and developing soccer-specific stadiums for all its teams” (34).
Note: Use et. al when the article has three or more authors.
On the Works Cited Page:
MLA 8th Edition requires writers to look for information from nine different core elements (listed below). The
most important thing to remember for a journal article from an online database is that the article will have two
containers: the journal and the database. Complete steps 3-9 for the first container (the journal); then, complete
steps 3-9 for the second container (the database).
Core Elements:
1. Author.
2. Title of source.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Title of container 1, (Journal)
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.
Title of container 2, (Database)
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.
Article Information:
Matthew Strutner et. al
“Making Soccer ‘Major League’ in the USA and
Beyond: Major League Soccer’s First Decade”
Sport History Review
none
none
vol. 45, issue 1
none
May 2014
pp. 23-36
Academic Search Premier
none
none
none
none
none
doi: 10.1123/shr.2012-0017
Using the Core Elements to Create a Citation:
Strutner, Matthew, et. al. “Making Soccer ‘Major League’ in the USA and Beyond: Major League Soccer’s First
Decade.” Sport History Review, vol. 45, issue 1, May 2014, pp. 23-36. Academic Search Premier, doi:
10.1123/shr.2012-0017.
Here is where you can find all the information for this article’s core elements.
Updated August 2016
Student Resources by The Learning Center, College of the Canyons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License.
MLA 8th Edition:
Journal Article from an Online Database, Indirect Quote, and Block Quote
30
TLC / College of the Canyons
Indirect Quote:
Sometimes, students want to quote a person that the author has already quoted. This is called an indirect quote.
For example, Margaret Munro includes a quote by Larry Katz in her article. Students may want to quote Katz’s
statement. To do so, use the abbreviation “qtd. in,” which stands for “quoted in.”
Sample:
Article Author: Margaret Munro
Quote Author: Larry Katz
Page Number: 448
Larry Katz asserts that, “instead of being athlete against athlete, you’re now in a situation where it’s technology
versus technology” (qtd. in Munro 448).
Note: On the Works Cited page, you will cite Margaret Munro’s article. Larry Katz’s name will not appear on the
Works Cited at all (unless you are using another source by Katz).
Block Quote:
Using a Block Quote for Prose Sources:
For prose sources, use a block quote if you are using four or
more lines of text. You should:
 Double indent it (one inch from left margin)
 Double space the quote
 Do not use quotation marks
Use block quotes sparingly. When at all possible, use the most
important words or phrases from the original quote. Consider
summarizing long passages rather than quoting them.
Using Block Quotes for Poetry:
If you are citing three or more lines of poetry, you should:
 Double indent it (one inch from left margin)
 Double space the quote
 Do not use quotation marks
Beware: Avoid over-citing poetry. Focus your efforts on
quoting the words/phrases you intend to analyze. Sometimes,
when students use multiple block quotes, it looks like they are
just trying to fill space in their paper.
Sample:
John Cloud describes the some of the critiques
of organic food, stating:
Many chefs, food writers and
politically minded eaters are outraged
that “Big Organic” firms now use the
same industrial-sized farming and
long-distance-shipping methods as
conventional agribusiness. (241)
Sample:
In her poem “Planetarium,” Adrienne Rich
describes constellations as
A woman in the shape of a monster
a monster in the shape of a woman
the skies are full of them (lines 1-3)
Updated August 2016
Student Resources by The Learning Center, College of the Canyons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License.