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MLA Presentation Study Notes

Overview of MLA Presentation

  • The presentation focuses on the Modern Language Association (MLA) format and methodology for ethical sourcing.
  • The importance of understanding MLA citation is emphasized as it relates to two reading assignments and corresponding quizzes.

Communication Reminders

  • Students are encouraged to check their emails and Brightspace for materials related to the presentation and quizzes.
  • The instructor indicates that answers to questions will not be provided directly; instead, students are expected to take notes.

Resources Available

  • Resources mentioned include:
    • MLA documentation presentation
    • Worksheets for assignments
    • Examples of MLA citations which include:
    • Titles
    • Official examples
    • A guide by OpenStax

Understanding MLA

  • Definition:

    • MLA stands for the Modern Language Association.
    • It is characterized humorously by the instructor as the "Mafia Language Association" because of its authoritative role in academic citation standards.

  • Reason for Importance:

    • Helps readers trace research steps and validate sources.
    • Adds credibility to arguments by providing a well-defined attribution method.
    • Aids in avoiding plagiarism by giving proper credit to original sources.

Citation Components

  • In-text Citations:

    • In-text citations occur within the text of the paper.
    • Essential elements to include:
    • Author's Last Name
    • Page Number (if applicable)
    • Example citation: (Smith 23)
    • If there is no author's name, cite the article's title in quotation marks.

  • Works Cited Page:

    • This page contains all sources cited in the paper.
    • Required components include:
    • Author's name
    • Title of the work
    • Publication details (publisher, publication date, etc.)
    • The Works Cited page is crucial; absence of citations invalidates the listed sources.

What Must Be Cited

  • Items that must be cited:

    • Websites
    • Graphics and videos
    • Direct quotes from others
    • Paraphrased content; must be significantly reworded and not closely derived from the original text (requires full understanding).
    • Ideas, theories, or arguments not originated by the student, even if they are not direct quotes.

  • Common Knowledge:

    • Information that is widely known and verifiable from multiple sources does not need to be cited (e.g., historical dates like the US Independence Day).
    • When in doubt, it's best to cite sources to avoid plagiarism.

Formatting Rules

  • Signal Phrases:

    • Introduce sources with a signal phrase (e.g., "According to Smith…").
    • This helps identify who is being quoted and can omit the author's name in the parenthetical citation if already mentioned.

  • Using Quotations:

    • Titles of shorter works (articles, chapters) should be placed in quotation marks.
    • Titles of longer works (books, movies) should be italicized.

  • Examples of Citations:

    • Direct quote citation structure:
    • "Quote here" (Bieber 57).
    • If video content is used:
    • Use time codes in place of page numbers to indicate the cited timestamp (e.g., [03:15]).

Works Cited Page Structure

  • Format for each entry consists of:

    1. Author: Last Name, First Name.
    2. Title of Source.
    3. Container (if applicable, italicized).
    4. Publisher (if applicable).
    5. Publication date.
    6. Location (URL or page number).

  • Example:
    Smith, John. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. 23, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-10.

Use of Citation Tools

  • Recommendation to use citation software:

    • Citation software can help automate formatting.
    • It is vital to proofread generated citations as software may contain errors.

  • Common issues:

    • Improper capitalization of titles.
    • Missing elements such as author names or publication details.

Review of Containers

  • All sources exist within a "container.":
    • Example: An article in a journal (Journal as container).
    • An academic book can stand alone as both title and container.

Practice Exercises

  • Engage with exercises requiring students to write and format correct MLA citations from provided details.
  • Importance of peer collaboration is highlighted for verifying citation practices and understanding the formatting rules.

Additional Resources

  • Students are referred to additional resources for citation guidance, especially regarding government websites or through specific databases where common works might exist.
  • Special consideration for electronic sources and their unique citation requirements.