MLA Style: The Cheat Sheet

MLA

In your paper, whenever you quote or paraphrase another source, you must always indicate:

1.                  The AUTHOR

2.                  The PAGE NUMBER from where the quote or information was taken

Examples of quoting another source:

Smith explains, “The hierarchy of beauty as a mirror to the hierarchy of status in the first half of the novel may seem nonsensical to the modern reader, although perhaps it shouldn’t” (74).  This is an example of a SIGNAL PHRASE because in the sentence the author is listed.

It is noted that “hierarchy of beauty as a mirror to the hierarchy of status in the first half of the novel may seem nonsensical to the modern reader” (Smith 74).  This is an example of where the author and page number are indicated at the end in parentheses.

– NOTICE THAT IN BOTH INSTANCES THE PERIOD COMES AFTER THE PAGE NUMBER PARENTHETICAL.

Example of paraphrasing another source (not quoting):

Beauty often mirrors hierarchy of status in the novel (Wright 74). 

-- AGAIN, NOTICE THAT THE PERIOD COMES AFTER THE PAGE NUMBER PARENTHETICAL.

If it is a long quotation, you need to set off quote by indenting (block quotes).  Example:

            Lookism, George Wright argues, has not gone away:

The assumed correlation between inner and outer beauty is consistently evident in children’s Disney animation, televised Miss America Pageants, and big budget Hollywood films. One could argue that these modern-day examples are vestiges of a bygone fairytale era closer to Aphra Behn’s literary world. In any event, the narrator establishes to the readers that certain foreign people … are special examples of their race and this specialness is most evident in their very appearance.  (3-4)

NOTICE that with indented block quotes (long quotations), the period comes before the page number in parentheses.  This is different from the other examples.

You must also have a Works Cited page where you list your sources.  See links below for explanations of setting one up.

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocMLA.html

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/

http://www.easybib.com/

Commas: The Basics

This is not a complete list.  The following situations are the five most common reasons for using commas.  Learn them.

1. Use a comma between two clauses (subject + verb) joined by the following conjunctions:

and

but

or

nor

for (which means the same as “because” and “since”)

so

yet

Notice how there is a clause on either side of the conjunction.  Examples:

The boy with ADHD was watching television, and he was playing games on his computer.

I would go with you to rent the DVD at Redbox, but I already saw it twice in the theaters.

Do not disobey me, or you will see what happens when people don’t follow orders.

The snobby woman has never considered dating a nerd, nor has she ever considered dating anyone without a car. 

Nobody was listening to the teacher, for everybody was too busy talking about who won on “The Voice” last night.

We have all been through this over and over again, so please don’t ask any more questions about the procedure.

She is tweeting all the time, yet somehow she still manages to hear everything the teacher is saying.

2. Use a comma after introductory elements. 

The following introductory adverb clauses are followed by a comma when they start a clause at the beginning of a sentence.  This is not a complete list, but you get the idea.

AFTER:  After he took out the trash, he went into the house and did the dishes.

ALTHOUGH:  Although she has a nice complexion, her hair is always tangled.

AS FAR AS:  As far as I know, there are no bears in that forest.

AS LONG AS:  As long as you keep studying, your grades will improve.

AS SOON AS:  As soon as the police officer left, the robbers went back to the bank to steal from the vault.

BECAUSE:  Because you never forget to study, you continue to receive good grades.

BEFORE:  Before he sent the e-mail, he proofread it and added a few more sentences.

IF:  If you want to become a clown at the circus, you have to go to Clown College.

NO MATTTER HOW:  No matter how much he tries, he cannot seem to master the art of singing like Michael Jackson.

NOW THAT:  Now that I took the test, I feel relieved that it’s all over.

ONCE:  Once she decided to become a nicer person, everybody noticed.

PROVIDED:  Provided you eat your vegetables, you can have dessert.

SINCE:  Since he is always late, we’ve come to expect it.

UNLESS:  Unless it rains tomorrow, the party will be held outdoors.

WHEN:  When the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, many people instantly died.

WHENEVER:  Whenever you sneeze, please remember to use a Kleenex.

WHEREVER:  Wherever he goes, people follow.

WHETHER OR NOT:  Whether or not you decide to audition, remember to use deodorant in the morning.

WHILE:  While the movie was playing, I couldn’t help worrying if I turned off all the lights in the house before I left for the theater.

3. Use a comma after long introductory phrases.  Examples:

In times of confusion, doubt, and anxiety, yoga and meditation can be great coping strategies.

Within the totalitarian state of North Korean, many people are miserable and starving.

4. After introductory transitional expressions, interjections, and introductory Yes/No.  Examples:

He was really stupid.  In fact, he usually forgot the answer after the teacher told it to him.

Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Yes, you are accepted into this sorority on condition you pay your dues.

5. Commas are used to separate items in a series.  Examples:

Her performance on “American Idol” was flawed, strange, and unprofessional.

Today at the flea market I bought a Prada handbag, a Kenneth Cole purse, a white dress, and a set of plates.

Some people are just mad, bad, and dangerous to know.

NOTE:  Notice that in the above three examples, there is a comma before the “and” that signals the last element.

Commas also separate series of adjectives before a noun.  Note that in these instances, there is no comma after the last adjective.  That is, do not put a comma after the last adjective before the noun.  Example:

Her flawed, strange, unprofessional performance gave her low marks from the judges on “American Idol.”

People often say he is a strange, difficult, irrational individual, but I think he is a genius.