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Basic MLA Citation Format

One of the citation formats Lesley University recommends for students is the Modern Language Association citation format. The following page includes sample citations from the MLA handbook:

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research papers. 4th ed. New York: MLA, 1995.

For more information, students should consult the original document.

References within the Text

Example A

"There are two basic types of sociodramatic play training: outside intervention and inside intervention" (Christie 29).

By putting the author's last name, Christie, and the page number, 29, in parentheses after your quotation about play training, you are telling the reader where you found this information.

Example B

Christie states that "there are two basic types of sociodramatic play training: outside intervention and inside intervention" (29).

Because you have mentioned the author's name in your sentence, you do not have to repeat it in the parentheses.

Example C

Margaret Sanger was thought to be primarily responsible for the introduction of birth control in this country (Kennedy 251).

or

David Kennedy says that Margaret Sanger was primarily responsible for the introduction of birth control in this country (251).

Sentences in your own words about the idea(s) of an author are treated in much the same way. Here there are no quotation marks because you are describing an author's idea, not quoting word-for-word.

Specific Formatting Examples

Book with one author

Kennedy, David. Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger. New Haven: Yale UP, 1970.

Article in a periodical

Christie, James F. "Sociodramatic play training." Young Children 37 (1982): 25-32.

Book with two or more authors (cite authors as they appear on title page, not necessarily in alphabetical order)

Wellek, Rene, and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. 3rd ed. New York: Harcourt, 1962.

Chapter from a book or a work in a collection (an anthology, a casebook or a group of essays)

O'Connor, Flannery. "Everything That Rises Must Converge." Mirrors: An Introduction to Literature. Ed. John R. Knott, Jr. and Christopher R. Reaske. San Francisco: Canfield, 1975. 58-67.

Article in an encyclopedia

"China." Encyclopedia Americana. 1978 ed.

Article in a weekly magazine

Cohen, Hennig. "Why Isn't Melville for the Masses?" Saturday Review 16 Aug. 1969: 19-21.

Article in a newspaper

Brody, Jane E. "Cancer Termed on Increase." New York Times 10 Oct. 1976, sec. 1: 37.

ERIC document

Milgram, Norman A. The Many Faces of Procrastination: Implications and Recommendations for Counselors. Paper presented at the Annual International Council of Psychologists Convention. 22-26 Aug. 1987. New York: 1987. ERIC ED 290 103.

Personal interview conducted in person

McKenna, Margaret. Personal interview. 17 April 1992.

Abstract on CD-ROM

Grant, Robert M., Shani, Rami & Krishnan, R. "TQM's Challenge to Management Theoryand Practice." Sloan Management Review. 35.2 (1994):25-35. CD-ROM. 1994 Pro-Quest File. ABI/Inform. Article 00817069

Note: Access date is not necessary when medium is CD-ROM

Newspaper article on the Internet

Calem, Robert E. "Does the Web Addict People? Or Just Tempt Internet Abuse?" The New York Times. 17 March 1996: 22 pars. Online. Available:

http://www.nytimes.com/web/docsroot/library/cyber/week/0317addict.html. 20 March 1996.

As page numbering is generally unknown, give another indicator of length; i.e., number of paragraphs, number of lines, etc., for journals, magazines and newspapers. Put the date you accessed the information on the Internet in brackets at the end of the entry.

Journal article on the Internet

MacLean, A. Peter, and Peters, Ray Dev. "Graduate Student Couples: Dyadic Satisfaction in Relation to Type of Partnership and Demographic Characteristics." Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science. 17.1 (1995): 13 pars. Online. Available: http://www.cycor.ca/Psych/cjbs/peters.html.

20 January 1996.

ERIC lesson plan on the Internet

Bingham, Christie. "A Day Full of Popcorn." ASKERIC Lesson Plans.

No date. Online. Available: http://www.ericir.syr.edu:70/00/Lesson/subject/LanguageArts/ceclang.15.

10 April 1996.

Web page essay

Asantewaa, Eva Yaa. Clearing a Path to Expression. Online. Available:

http://plaza.interport.net/cats/eva2.html. 20 March 1996.

Personal E-mail

Clinton, William (WCLINTON@whitehouse.gov). "Budget Preparation Meeting." E-mail to

Al Gore (AGORE@whitehouse.gov). 10 March 1996.

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