MLA Style Guide for IUGB Students
MLA Style Guide for IUGB Students
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What is MLA Style?
What is MLA Style?
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is a format used in the humanities, particularly within literature, language, and cultural studies. MLA guidelines provide a standardized way to:
Format your paper: Your paper should be double-spaced in easy-to-read text, and contain information the instructor needs such as your name, the course, and page numbers.
Cite sources within your research papers: This means giving credit to the original authors of the ideas and information you use.
Format your works cited page: This is a list of all the sources you used, presented in a specific format at the end of your paper.
Why Use MLA?
Avoid plagiarism: Citing your sources correctly shows that you've done your research and demonstrates that the words and ideas are your own.
Give credit to authors: MLA acknowledges the intellectual work of others.
Help readers find your sources: Proper citations allow your readers to locate the original material you used, expanding their knowledge.
MLA Formatting Basics
MLA Formatting Basics
General:
Double-space your entire document.
Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
Use a standard font like Times New Roman, 12 pt.
Header:
In the top right corner, include your last name and page number (e.g., Patel 2)
Title Page (Not always required, check with your instructors):
Your name
Instructor's name
Course title
Date
Key Elements of MLA
Key Elements of MLA
In-Text Citations
Brief parenthetical citations within the body of your paper.
Usually include the author's last name and page number.
Example: (Smith 24).
Works Cited Page
Full list of all sources used, placed at the end of your paper.
Entries include details like author, title, publication date, etc.
Entries are alphabetized by the author's last name.
Citation Presentation .pdfMLA Citation Examples
MLA Citation Examples
Book:
Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium.
Example: Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. London: Penguin Books, 1958. Print.
Website:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Name of Website. Sponsor/Publisher, Date of Publication [if available]. Medium. Date of Access.
Example: Johnson, Sarah. "Modernism in African Literature." The Literary Encyclopedia. The Literary Dictionary Company, 25 Feb. 2020. Web. 5 Apr. 2024.
Helpful MLA Resources
Helpful MLA Resources
Purdue OWL MLA Guide: A comprehensive and authoritative resource on MLA style: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
Grammarly: MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/mla-format/
MLA Citation Generators: Tools that help you format citations correctly:
EasyBib: https://www.easybib.com/
Cite This For Me: https://www.citethisforme.com/
Citation machine: https://www.citationmachine.net/mla
Important Notes
Important Notes
Always consult your professors: They may have specific MLA requirements for your assignments.
MLA is regularly updated: Refer to the latest MLA Handbook or online guides for the most recent rules.
Not all courses use MLA:
Depending on the course subject, the instructor may require APA or another style. Most humanities papers are formatted in MLA, and social science papers are formatted in APA.
Let the IUGB library help! If you have questions about MLA, APA, or research, don't hesitate to reach out to your librarians.
Let the IUGB library help! If you have questions about MLA, APA, or research, don't hesitate to reach out to your librarians.
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