How to Write a MLA Reference Page

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:WriteMLAReferencePage

Story Highlights

Introduction Your research paper is due, and you still have to write the reference page. Here is

Adjust font size:
Desrease font
Enlarge font

Introduction

Your research paper is due, and you still have to write the reference page. Here is how to write the reference page using the MLA (Modern Language Association) style format.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Set Up the Page

Steps

1

Step One

Title a fresh page "Works Citeda??. Center the title near the top of the page. Hit "Enter" or "Return" 4 times. Double-space all lines from here on.
2

Step Two

Align left and add entries. Arrange references alphabetically by author, then title, then by date of publication, with the most recent coming first. Indent the second and following lines of a reference entry by 5 spaces.
3

Step Three

Abbreviate the names of all months in publication dates except for May, June and July.
4

Step Four

Use the proper format for the type of reference cited. See below.

Is It a Book?

Steps

1

Step One

Type the author's name, last name first. Close the name with a period.
2

Step Two

Underline the title of the book. Close the title with a period.
3

Step Three

Write the place of publication and insert a colon. Add the publisher and close with a comma. Follow with the year of publication and close with a period. It should look like this: New York: Nonesuch, 2006.

Is It an Article?

Steps

1

Step One

Type the author's name, last name first. Close the name with a period.

2

Step Two

Enter the name of the article and close with a period. Put quotation marks around the title, making sure that the period is inside the quotes, like this: "Mayor guilty of fraud."
3

Step Three

Write the name of the publication where you found the article. Underline this name and DO NOT close with a period.
4

Step Four

Enter the volume number of the publication.
5

Step Five

Put the date of publication next, enclosed in parentheses and followed by a colon, like this: (Mar 2006):
6

Step Six

After the colon, type the page number or numbers where you found the article and close the entire reference with a period.

Is It a Website?

Steps

1

Step One

Type the author's name, last name first. Close with a period.

2

Step Two

Enter the title of the web page and close with a period. Enclose the title with quotation marks, making sure that the period is inside the quotes, like this: "True tales of horror."
3

Step Three

Write the name of the website where you found the web page. Underline this name and close with a period.
4

Step Four

Type the year that the web page was created and close with a period. Follow this with the name of the publisher of the website and close with a period.
5

Step Five

Enter the date that you accessed the web page, giving the day, then month, then year, like this: 7 May 2006. DO NOT close with a period.
6

Step Six

Next give the complete URL address of the web page and enclose within angle brackets, like this: <http://www.ehow.com/how_1000367_Build-Pedestal-Bed.html>.
7

Step Seven

Close the whole entry with a period.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • If you are not sure what to use, ask your instructor what citation style is needed for your project.
  • The Modern Language Association publishes in-depth citation guides for the MLA format.
  • The MLA citation style is used for research subjects in the fields of literature, humanities and the arts. Different research fields have their own standard citation formats, which can vary substantially from what is presented here.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • Computer or word processor
  • Reference materials
  • Paper
Comments
Tools: |