MLA Style

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MLA style Parenthetical references and Works Cited list

What are parenthetical references?

“As you prepare your paper, you should…seek to build on the work of previous writers and researchers. And whenever you draw on another’s work, you must also document your source by indicating what you borrowed—whether facts, opinions, or quotations—and where you borrowed it from” (Gibaldi 142).

How do I do parenthetical references?

Each time that you need to credit someone for the language or ideas in your text, simply put the author’s name in brackets (parentheses) with the page number of the original source of the information. Example: (Turner 398)

That’s all you have to do. If you can’t find an author, use whatever information will be at the beginning of the reference in your Works Cited list (bibliography). It might be the title of an encyclopedia or periodical article, or the title of a webpage.

It must be clear from the parenthetical reference which source you are referring to in the Works Cited list.

For exceptions and special cases, see the MLA Handbook in the library (REF 808.02 GIB) or check the Concordia University Library website

A citation in MLA style contains only enough information to enable readers to find the source in the works-cited list.” (Gibaldi 142).

What is a Works Cited list?

A Works Cited list or a Bibliography (literally a “description of books”) lists all of the resources that you used to write your paper. The sources are listed alphabetically by author’s last name or by title if there is no author named. The Works Cited list is generally the last page of the assignment. All entries are double-spaced.

How do I do a Works Cited list?

The five most common cases – books, reference books, periodicals (in print and in an online database) and websites – are listed here. For exceptions and special cases, see the MLA Handbook in the library (REF 808.02 GIB) or check the Concordia University Library.

MOST COMMON EXAMPLES OF MLA STYLE

Works Cited Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA handbook for writers of research papers. New York: The
     Modern Language Association of America, 2003.
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