MLA In-Text Citations

Base XP: 60

Learning Target(s):

  • Use acknowledgements and citations to recognize intellectual property rights

  • Use the conventions of Canadian spelling, grammar, and punctuation proficiently and as appropriate to the context

It’s important to cite sources you used in your research or responses for several reasons:

      • To show your reader you’ve done proper research by listing sources you used to get your information

      • To avoid plagiarism by quoting credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas.

      • To establish yourself as a credible source of information and that your information can be trusted.

You must cite:

      • Facts, figures, ideas, or other information that is not common knowledge

      • Ideas, words, theories, or exact language that another person used in other publications

      • Publications that must be cited include: books, book chapters, articles, web pages, theses, etc.

      • Another person's exact words should be quoted and cited to show proper credit


When in doubt, be safe and cite your source!

MLA Citations with OWL Purdue

Properly citing your sources in MLA format is comprised of two parts: In-Text Citations and a Works Cited Page. The In-Text Citation is found as stated, within the text itself; while the Works Cited Page is a more detailed list of all the sources used and is found at the end of the document.

An In-Text Citation is a brief reference in your text that indicates the source you consulted. It should direct readers to the entry in your works-cited list for that source. English uses a format for citation called MLA: Modern Language Association. There are many rules for citations, and many online databases that you can use. The Purdue Writing Lab is known for having an extensive online resource that is kept up to date for public use. Below is a video to help you navigate their site.

You will need to be familiar with the basics of the MLA in-text citation. Read the MLA Handout and the OWL Purdue MLA Basics page and watch the video below to understand the basics of MLA in-text citations.

Quote vs. Paraphrase vs. Summary

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

  • Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

  • Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

  • Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Download and read the handout to understand the WHY and the HOW of the three options: Quote vs. Paraphrase vs. Summary

Signal Phrases

Signal phrases are short phrases that introduce a quote, paraphrase, or summary; they signal to readers that an outside source is being used.

A signal phrase introducing a quote: The CEO of Lighthouse Consulting predicts “a year of exciting, challenging endeavors that will expand the company’s horizons and stimulate growth throughout the company.”

A signal phrase introducing a paraphrase: According to a recent survey from Pew Research Center, more than 50% of adults in the U.S. play video games, with 21% engaging in this activity on a daily basis.

A signal phrase introducing a summary: The nutritionists Young and Robinson propose that an iron-fortified soy sauce is the solution to the anemia problem in the young women of rural China.

Download and read the handout to understand more about Signal Phrases: Signal Phrases

Task:

For this quest, you will be required to read the article provided and complete the worksheet below.

Assignment 2 - In-Text Citations Worksheet (.PDF)

Assignment 2 - In-Text Citations Worksheet (.DOCX)

Of course, you are welcome to use a different strategy from your Ways of Knowing & Showing Understanding if you prefer, but it's really important that you understand how to use MLA format in the context of English courses, and actually doing it is one of the best ways.

Please submit your completed quest HERE when it's ready for assessment, and of course let me know if/why you require additional XP.