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Shakespeare: Your Go-To Resource for All Things Bard: MLA

About References

"The references of your paper are the foundation on which your work is built. They provide the scientific background that justifies the research you have undertaken and the methods you have used. They provide the context in which your research should be interpreted. They should not be collected as an afterthought when your research project is complete. A literature search and reading of the relevant references should be the starting points of any research project."
- Howell, Simon. "References." How to write a paper. Ed. George M. Hall. 3rd ed. London: BMJ Books, 2003. 51.

Academic Integrity

"As a community of students and scholars, The University strives to set and maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All members of the university community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work. This responsibility can be met only through earnest and continuing good faith effort on the part of all students and faculty."

The Lowdown, "Student Academic Conduct Policy"

MLA Style Manual

MLA Examples - Books

Section numbers refer to the MLA Handbook, 7th ed..

Book (5.5.2):

Takahashi, Shin. The Manga Guide to Statistics. San Francisco: No Starch Press, 2009. Print.

Book chapter in an anthology (5.5.6):

Vessey, David. "Hey-diddley-ho, Neighboreenos: Ned Flanders and Neighborly Love." The Simpsons and Philosophy. Ed. William
     Irwin, Mark T. Conrad, and Aeon J. Skoble. Chicago: Open Court, 2001. 202-214. Print.

Article in a reference book (5.5.7):

Chapman, Roger. "GI Joe." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Tom Pendergast and Sara Pendergast. Vol. 2. Detroit:
     St. James Press, 2000. Print.

MLA Examples - Periodicals

MLA format no longer requires URLs in the works cited list. Readers are now more likely to find web resources by searching for titles and authors’ names than by typing URLs. Therefore, MLA style now indicates that writers should include a URL as supplementary information only when the the reader probably cannot locate the source without it, or when an instructor requires it.

If including a URL, enclose it in angle brackets and place it after the date of access.

Journal article - from print journal (5.4.2):

Mabry, Rick, and Paul Deiermann. "Of Cheese and Crust: A Proof of the Pizza Conjecture and Other Tasty Results." American
     Mathematical Monthly
  116.5 (2009): 423-438. Print.

Journal, magazine, or newspaper  article - from online database (5.6.4):

Shepherd, Laura, and Adam Kuczynski. "The Use of Emotive Imagery and Behavioral Techniques for a 10-Year-Old Boy's
     Nocturnal Fear of Ghosts and Zombies." Clinical Case Studies 8.2 (2009): 99-112. Sage Journals Online. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.

Magazine article - from print magazine (5.4.6):

Reyes, Paul. "Paradise Swamped: The Boom and Bust of the Middle-Class Dream." Harper's Magazine Aug. 2010: 39-48. Print.

Magazine article - from magazine website (5.6.2):

Kushner, David. "Tricked Out Golf Carts Swarm Florida Communities." Wired 17.10 (2009) n. pag. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.

Newspaper article - from print newspaper (5.4.5):

Itzkoff, Dave. "Banned TV Episode Has Its Day on DVD." New York Times 20 July 2010, late ed.: C1+. Print.

Newspaper article - fron newspaper website (5.6.2):

Kepner, Tyler. "Back from Dead, Red Sox Bury Yanks and Go to Series." New York Times. New York Times, 21 Oct. 2004. Web.
     6 Jan. 2010.

MLA Examples - Websites

MLA format no longer requires URLs in the works cited list. Readers are now more likely to find web resources by searching for titles and authors’ names than by typing URLs. Therefore, MLA style now indicates that writers should include a URL as supplementary information only when the the reader probably cannot locate the source without it, or when an instructor requires it.

If including a URL, enclose it in angle brackets and place it after the date of access.

Entire Website (5.6.2):

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue University, 2010. Web. 2 Aug. 2010.

Document from a Website (5.6.2):

Welch, Chris. "Web Goes Nuts for 'Crasher Squirrel'." CNN.com. Cable News Network, 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.

MLA Guides on the Web