How to Make a Works Cited Page in MLA Format
Many publishers in the humanities and teachers in high school and college require Modern Language Association (MLA) style because it provides a system for uniformly formatting your writing and helps avoid plagiarism. To make a works cited page using MLA format, take thorough notes on every source you use in your article, essay or other writing. Each source you reference must appear in your works cited list, and each source in your work cited list must refer to an in-text citation in your writing.
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Things You'll Need
- Original sources' publication information
- Note cards or electronic database
- MLA style guidebook or online resource
Instructions
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Write down all publication information for each source you use or think you may use as you research and write your essay. Depending on the type of publication you cite, you will need some combination of author, title, publication city, publisher's name, publication date, journal name, volume and issue number, and page numbers. Compile publication information on note cards or in an electronic database for easy organization.
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Type and center the words "Works Cited" at the top of the first page following the final page of your essay or end notes. Double space your works cited list and use one-inch margins on all sides, just as you would in the rest of your MLA-formatted essay.
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Format each source according to the rules of MLA style. Though exceptions exist, a standard MLA format citation will list the author's last name followed by her first name, the title of the work being cited (in italics) and its essential publication information. Give the minimum amount of information necessary for a reader to find your source. The first line of every citation should be flushed to the left of the page and each subsequent line should be indented one standard tab length, or at least five spaces. To ensure proper citation format, use a free service like EasyBib.com (see Resources section).
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Alphabetize your sources by authors' last names. If a single source has multiple authors, use the name of the first author listed. If a source has the same author or authors as another source in your list, alphabetize by the sources' titles and use three dashes in place of the second mention of the author's name. For example:
Smith, John. A Voyage Into the Night. Los Angeles: Make Believe Press, 2010.
---. Buying a House in the Light. Los Angeles: Make Believe Press, 2008.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are unsure about whether to include a source in your works cited list, include it. If you need to cite a source with irregular publication information, such as a book lacking a publishing date or a text with an anonymous author, check your MLA manual for suggestions. When in doubt, include as much information as you can and try to make your citation resemble typical MLA format.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit doing research image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
