How to Reference an Essay Paper in MLA style: Comprehensive Guide

Referencing an essay paper in MLA (Modern Language Association) style requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the guidelines provided by the MLA Handbook. This essay will guide you through the process of referencing various types of sources, constructing the Works Cited page, and using in-text citations according to MLA standards.

Introduction

The MLA style is a widely used format for writing and documenting research in the humanities, particularly in the fields of language and literature. One of the key aspects of MLA style is the consistent and correct referencing of sources, which serves to credit the original authors, allow readers to locate the sources, and demonstrate the credibility and depth of your research.

General Principles of MLA Referencing

Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page is a comprehensive list of all the sources cited in your paper. Each entry should provide enough information for readers to locate the source themselves. The general format for a Works Cited entry is as follows:

1. Author(s). Begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name. If there are multiple authors, list them in the order they appear on the source, with the first author’s name in reverse order (last name first), followed by the other authors’ names in normal order. Separate multiple authors’ names with commas and the word “and” before the last author.
2. Title of Source. Italicize titles of books and journals. Use quotation marks for titles of articles, essays, and chapters.
3. Title of Container, If your source is part of a larger whole (like an article in a journal, or a chapter in a book), the larger whole is the container. Italicize the container title.
4. Other Contributors, List other contributors, if they are relevant to your research or to the identification of the work, after the title. Examples include editors, translators, or illustrators.
5. Version, Include the version or edition of the source if it is relevant.
6. Number, If the source is part of a numbered sequence (such as a journal volume or issue), list the number.
7. Publisher, Name the publisher if it is not already mentioned as part of the title.
8. Publication Date, List the publication date.
9. Location. Provide the location details for your source. This might be a page number (p. or pp.), a URL, or a DOI.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in MLA format include the author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken. This is usually placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence before the punctuation mark.

Example: (Smith 45)

Referencing Different Types of Sources

Books

Single Author

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.

Example: Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Penguin Books, 2020.

Multiple Authors

Author’s Last Name, First Name, and Second Author’s First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.

Example: Smith, John, and Jane Doe. Collaborative Writing. HarperCollins, 2019.

Articles

Journal Article

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, year, pages.

Example: Doe, Jane. “Exploring Literary Theory.” Journal of Modern Literature, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, pp. 23-45.

Newspaper or Magazine Article

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, pages.

Example: Smith, John. “The Evolution of Writing Styles.” The Literary Times, 15 Jan. 2021, pp. 12-14.

Online Sources

Website

Author(s). “Title of Web Page.” Title of Website, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

Example: Doe, Jane. “Understanding MLA Style.” Writing Resources Online, 10 Mar. 2021, www.writingresources.com/mla-style.

Online Journal Article

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, year, pages. Database, DOI or URL.

Example: Smith, John. “Modern Approaches to Literary Analysis.” Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, 2020, pp. 33-50. JSTOR, doi:10.1000/jls.2020.01.

Practical Examples and Guidelines

Example 1: Referencing a Book

Book by a Single Author

Author: Malcolm Gladwell Title: Outliers: The Story of Success Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Publication Date: 2008

Works Cited Entry: Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

In-Text Citation: (Gladwell 25)

Example 2: Referencing a Journal Article

Journal Article with Multiple Authors

Authors: John D. Smith and Jane Doe Title: “The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance” Journal: Educational Research Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Year: 2019 Pages: 45-67

Works Cited Entry: Smith, John D., and Jane Doe. “The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance.” Educational Research Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 45-67.

In-Text Citation: (Smith and Doe 45)

Example 3: Referencing a Website

Web Page with No Author

Title: “MLA Style Quick Guide” Website: Purdue OWL Publisher: Purdue University Publication Date: 2020 URL: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_style_introduction.html

Works Cited Entry: “MLA Style Quick Guide.” Purdue OWL, Purdue University, 2020, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_style_introduction.html.

In-Text Citation: (“MLA Style Quick Guide”)

Example 4: Referencing an Edited Book

Chapter in an Edited Book

Author of Chapter: Mark Twain Title of Chapter: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” Title of Book: American Literature Anthology Editor: Jane Doe Publisher: Academic Press Publication Date: 2015 Pages: 123-145

Works Cited Entry: Twain, Mark. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” American Literature Anthology, edited by Jane Doe, Academic Press, 2015, pp. 123-145.

In-Text Citation: (Twain 123)

Formatting the Works Cited Page

1. Title: Center the title “Works Cited” at the top of the page.
2. Entries: Begin each entry flush with the left margin. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent lines one-half inch from the left margin (hanging indent).
3. Order: List entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If there is no author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring any leading articles (a, an, the).

In-Text Citations: Detailed Guidelines

Quoting and Paraphrasing

When quoting directly from a source, include the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses at the end of the quote. For paraphrased information, include the same citation format.

Direct Quote Example: “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them” (Einstein 45).

Paraphrase Example: Einstein suggests that new thinking is required to solve existing problems (45).

Multiple Authors

When citing a work by two authors, include both last names in the in-text citation connected by “and.”

Example: (Smith and Doe 76)

For works with three or more authors, include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”

Example: (Johnson et al. 102)

No Author

When citing a source with no author, use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation.

Example: (“Impact of Social Media” 23)

Multiple Works by the Same Author

When citing multiple works by the same author, include a shortened version of the title to distinguish between the sources.

Example: (Gladwell, Outliers 45) and (Gladwell, Blink 78)

Conclusion

Properly referencing sources in MLA style involves attention to detail and adherence to specific guidelines for different types of sources. By following the principles outlined in this essay, you can create accurate and consistent citations that enhance the credibility of your work and allow readers to locate the original sources. Whether referencing books, articles, or online sources, understanding MLA style is essential for any researcher in the humanities.