Introduction to Citation Styles: MLA 9th ed.

[axisofpeter]

I'm going to add two clarifying points to help any students reviewing this video (I am a professor of English). 1) The video puts emphasis on citing direct quotes and makes only a passing remark that you also need to cite in text when you refer to other works. I'm afraid that could mislead people to think they need to cite in text only when they quote a work. That is untrue. So, any use of a source for an opinion, argument, line of reasoning, or even an fact (that is not common knowledge) must be cited in text and in Works Cited. This is true even if you use your own words to paraphrase or summarize the author. If you do not cite properly, you commit plagiarism. Plus, citing in text makes your paper stronger since it shows you have researched the issue and are knowledgeable.

2) The video mentions that once you have introduced a work, you need only cite by page number. But, you still need signal phrases in text to show which source you are citing when you have multiple sources. Even if you were using only one source throughout, you would want to use signal phrases rather than just a parenthetical citation to emphasize that these ideas are those of another. If you are just citing a fact drawn from a source, you might not use a signal phrase, but where you are including a line of reasoning, argument, opinion, etc., you would definitely want to.

[shrishtisaha]

Do you have to include EVERY single page number where the information appears?

[jasminelove]

What if there’s no version? And it’s just a website ? Do I have to include a version/edition. And also, is there always a publisher for every website? I know there’s always an author, but what if there’s no publisher (like CNN or New York Times, etc?

[maitri_negi]

How to add subtitles in work citation?

[agfeminaaf]

if we found the article online that not provided in printed version, how to write the url?