Mastering MLA In-Text Citations: A Guide for 8th Graders

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to MLA in-text citations that are important for 8th graders.

What are In-Text Citations?

Brief references within your essay that point to your sources.

When to use In-Text Citations

Any time you use information from a source, quote directly, paraphrase, summarize, or use statistics.

Basic format for MLA In-Text Citations

Author's last name and page number in parentheses, e.g., (Smith, 42).

Citing sources with no author

Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks, e.g., ("Global Warming" 23).

Citing multiple authors

Include both last names for two authors, e.g., (Smith and Jones 15), and for three or more authors use "et al.", e.g., (Johnson et al. 88).

Citing multiple works by the same author

Include a shortened title after the author's name, e.g., (Smith, "Climate Change" 45).

Integrating citations into your writing

Introduce the quote or information before the citation, e.g., According to Smith, "Climate change is a global issue" (42).

Common mistakes to avoid in in-text citations

Don't include the author's first name, don't place a comma between name and page number, and always cite paraphrased information.