MLA 9 - 2) Works Cited List: Pieces of the Puzzle

The Works Cited List:

Pieces of the Puzzle

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:

The works cited list can be challenging to students new to MLA. These resources will help you understand how MLA organizes the information in a citation using Containers and Core Elements.

WHAT TO DO:

Watch the video about Containers and the video about Core Elements.
Review the Examples and the Pieces of the Puzzle breakdowns. This should help you put the video information into context.
1. You don't need to memorize all the examples, but read through them carefully to understand the differences between various kinds of sources and how the Containers and Core Elements work for each.
Answer the self-check questions at the end.
Go to Part 3, The Works Cited List: Formatting.

Video: An Introduction to MLA Containers

This video, although made for MLA 8, is still an excellent introduction to MLA containers. Watch it carefully to understand how MLA organizes the pieces of the citation puzzle.

Pro Tip: Galileo is a portal used to access information in our library databases, so it is never cited directly!

Containers at a Glance

Author, Title, Container 1 (title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location) Container 2 (Title of container, etc.)

Video: An Introduction to MLA Core Elements

This video, although made for MLA 8, is still an excellent introduction to MLA core elements. Watch it carefully to understand how MLA identifies the pieces of a citation puzzle.

Core Elements at a Glance

Author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location

Pieces of the Puzzle: Books and eBooks

Citation for a book (print)

Smith, Sharon. The Coolest Things Out There in the World, Penguin Books, 2017, pp. 35-38.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Core Element (Author):

Smith, Sharon.

Core Element (Title of source):

The Coolest Things Out There in the World,

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Publisher):

Penguin Books,

Core Element (Date):

2017,

Core Element (Location):

pp. 35-38.

Citation for a book on an e-reader

Smith, Sharon. The Coolest Things Out There in the World, Penguin Books, 2017, pp. 35-38. Kindle.

Same as above, but add a final bit at the end:

Supplemental Element (Medium / File Type):

Kindle.

Citation for an eBook (in a database)

Smith, Sharon. The Coolest Things Out There in the World, Penguin Books, 2017, pp. 35-38. ProQuest Central, https://doi.org/sfrn.45rf.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Core Element (Author):

Smith, Sharon.

Core Element (Title of source):

The Coolest Things Out There in the World,

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Publisher):

Penguin Books,

Core Element (Date):

2017,

Core Element (Location):

pp. 35-38.

CONTAINER TWO

Core Element (Title of Container):

ProQuest Central,

Core Element (Location):

https://doi.org/sfrn.45rf.

Pieces of the Puzzle: Edited Books and eBooks

Citation for an edited book (Print)

Jones, Melanie, editor. The Psychology of Dogs, Best Book Publisher. 2023, pp. 35-54).

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Core Element (Author):

Jones, Melanie, editor.

Core Element (Title of source):

The Psychology of Dogs,

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Publisher):

Best Book Publisher,

Core Element (Date):

2013,

Core Element (Location):

pp. 34-54.

Citation for an edited book (in a database)

Jones, Melanie, editor. The Psychology of Dogs, Best Book Publisher. 2023, pp. 35-54). EBSCO eBooks, https://ebsco.book.com.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Add to the above information

CONTAINER TWO

Core Element (Title of Container):

EBSCO eBooks,

Core Element (Location):

https://ebsco.book.com.

Citation for a work in an edited multivolume edition (Print)

Jones, Melanie. "Who Let the Dogs Out", The Psychology of Dogs, edited by Gerry Smith, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Best Book Publisher. 2023, pp. 35-54).

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Core Element (Author):

Jones, Melanie.

Core Element (Title of source):

"Who Let the Dogs Out."

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container)

The Psychology of Dogs,

Core Element (Version):

2nd ed.,

Core Element (Number):

vol. 4,

Core Element (Publisher):

Best Book Publisher,

Core Element (Date):

2013,

Core Element (Location):

pp. 34-54.

Citation for a work in an edited multivolume edition (in a database)

Jones, Melanie. "Who Let the Dogs Out", The Psychology of Dogs, edited by Gerry Smith, vol. 4, Best Book Publisher. 2023, pp. 35-54). NetLibrary, https://netlibrary.book.org

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Add to the above information

CONTAINER TWO

Core element (Title of Container):

NetLibrary

Core Element (Location):

https://netlibrary.coolbook.org

Pieces of the Puzzle: Journal Articles

Citation for a journal article in a database (two authors)

Smith, Susie, and Melanie Vincent. (2018). "Teaching Cool Stuff: How to Use Powerpoint." Journal of Cool Stuff, vol. 13, no. 2, April 2013, pp. 4-8. JSTOR, https://doi.org/12.454/545.

Citation for a journal article in a database (more than two authors)

Smith, Susie, et al. (2018). "More Teaching Stuff: How to Use Outlook." Journal of Cool Stuff, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 9-12. JSTOR, April 2013, https://doi.org/12.454/546.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle:

Core Element (Author):

Smith, Susie, and Melanie Vincent.

Core Element (Title of Source):

"Teaching Cool Stuff: How to Use Powerpoint."

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

Journal of Cool Stuff,

Core Element (Number):

vol. 13, no. 2,

Core Element (Publication Date):

April 2013,

Core Element (Location):

pp. 4-8.

CONTAINER TWO

Core Element (Title of Container): ProTip - this is always the name of a specific database, not Google or Galileo!

JSTOR,

Core element (Location)

https://doi.org/12.454/545.

Pieces of the Puzzle: Websites

Citation format for webpage on a website with an individual author

Picard, Jean. "Cats in the Sunbeam: A Study of Purring." Center for Feline Studies, January 4, 2019, www.felinestudies.com.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle

Core Element (Author):

Picard, Jean.

Core Element (Title of Source):

"Cats in the Sunbeam: A Study of Purring."

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

Center for Feline Studies,

Core Element (Publication Date):

January 4, 2019,

Core Element (Location):

www.felinestudies.com.

Citation format for webpage on a website where the website is the corporate author

"Cats in the Storm: A Study of Growls." Center for Feline Studies, March 13, 2020, www.felinestudies.com.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle

Core Element (Author):

Typically this is left off.

(Why? When the page is authored AND published by the same corporation or organization, begin with the title of the source and the organization name becomes the Title of Container element.)

Core Element (Title of Source):

"Cats in the Storm: A Study of Growls."

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

Center for Feline Studies,

(This is where the corporation or organization name goes.)

Core Element (Publication Date):

March 13, 2020,

Core Element (Location):

www.felinestudies.com.

Protip:

Pieces of the Puzzle: Images & Video

Basic Format for Web Image

CatPhotoGirl, Cat and dog. Cats Website, 2020, www.kitty.com/meow. Accessed 19 Sept. 2020.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle

Core Element (Author/Artist):

CatPhotoGirl,

Core Element (Title of Source):

Cat and dog.

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

Cats Website,

Core Element (Publication Date):

2020,

Core Element (Location):

www.kitty.com/meow.

Supplemental Element (Access date):

Accessed 19 Sept. 2020.

ProTIP: The access date is optional for online materials. Use it when you think the website might change!

Basic Format for Web Image With No Author, Title, or Date

Drawing of cat with flower. Cat Fun Website, 2019, www.kitty.com/cat.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle

Core Element (Author/Artist):

None, leave off!

Core Element (Title of Source):

Drawing of cat with flower.

Briefly describe image when there is no title!

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

Cat Fun Website,

Core Element (Publication Date):

2019,

Core Element (Location):

www.kitty.com/cat

Basic Format for Web Video

"Cat Paws." YouTube, uploaded by CatFanGeorgia, July 15, 2020, https://www.vid.com/video.

Breaking down the pieces of the puzzle

Core Element (Author/Artist):

Do NOT include the uploader as the Author Element here.

Core Element (Title of Source):

"Cat Paws,"

CONTAINER ONE

Core Element (Title of Container):

YouTube, uploaded by CatFanGeorgia,

The uploader name goes here, as part of this element.

Core Element (Publication Date):

July 15, 2020,

Core Element (Location):

https://www.vid.com/video.

Go to Part 3

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