MLA Citations General Overview
Parenthetical Citations / In-text citations
At KAMS, MLA Citations are used cross-circularly and across grade levels; citations are even used when you go to high school! It is important to use MLA Citations, when applicable, to avoid plagiarism (which is not only illegal but also results in academic consequences, per the Student-Family Handbook) and to give the original creator credit for their work. Using MLA Citations also allow you to show your sources, allowing you to be a trustworthy writer (and person)! Lastly, using MLA Citations allows others to find the sources utilized to learn about a topic, make connections, support arguments, and discover gaps in research, for themselves.
One should cite a source any time a direct quote from that source has been used, paraphrased, or when ideas (which were not originally your own) have been generally used to inform your research.
If unsure about whether or not to cite something, just cite it--it's better to be safe than sorry!
Please review the brief video below, regarding why MLA Citations are essential at KAMS!