THE RESEARCH PAPER & MLA FORMAT

WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS BIGGEST PROBLEMS STUDENTS HAVESTUDENTS HAVE?

Inserting Quotes correctly

Citing sources (parenthetical

notation)

Works Cited Page

WHY DO STUDENTS HAVE WHY DO STUDENTS HAVE PROBLEMS INSERTING QUOTES PROBLEMS INSERTING QUOTES CORRECTLY?CORRECTLY?

Not understanding Run-on sentences (comma

splices)

Not understanding how to use quotes

Not understanding why quotes are needed

DEFINITION:

To insert a quote means that you place

a quotation that you found INTO A

SENTENCE THAT YOU CREATED without

disrupting the flow of the sentence.

YOUR QUOTEEXAMPLE OF YOUR QUOTE: “School uniforms are a bad idea.” (Found on your works cited page under the name Smith)EXAMPLE OF INSERTING A QUOTE: A more formal dress code might be acceptable, but, “school uniforms are a bad idea” (Smith 25).

OTHER ACCEPTABLE OPTIONSOTHER ACCEPTABLE OPTIONS

John Smith says that, “school uniforms are a bad idea” (25).

It has been said that, “school uniforms are a bad idea” (Smith 25).

BAD EXAMPLES

“School uniforms are a bad idea” (Smith 25). As this quote shows…“School uniforms are a bad idea” (Smith 25). Obviously, many people think this is a bad idea…These examples DO NOT insert a quote. They are called HANGING QUOTES because they just hang there with no connection to anything.

A REALLY BAD EXAMPLEA REALLY BAD EXAMPLE

A more formal dress code might

be acceptable, “school uniforms are a bad idea.”

REVIEWREVIEWWhat are the three hardest parts of

MLA format for students?

Inserting QuotesInserting Quotes

Parenthetical NotationParenthetical Notation

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

INSERTING QUOTESINSERTING QUOTES

Combine YOUR SENTENCE AND

The quoteThe quote

REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE SENTENCE:

Is not a run-onIs not a run-on

Does not “hang”Does not “hang”

PARENTHETICAL NOTATION

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DON’T NAME THE AUTHOR IN YOUR SENTENCE, YOU SHOULD… Name him/her in parenthesis Name him/her in parenthesis

Example – (Smith 25)Example – (Smith 25) Put the period after the parenthesisPut the period after the parenthesis

Example – (Smith 25).Example – (Smith 25).

Make certain that the name in parenthesis… Lines up with the name on the works Lines up with the name on the works

cited pagecited page

WORKS CITED PAGEWORKS CITED PAGE

Alphabetical Order By author or titleBy author or title

If no author is available, use The titleThe title

Whatever is first on the Works Cited Page goes (where?)In the parenthetical notation In the parenthetical notation

(in parenthesis)(in parenthesis)

DON’T FORGET TO USE HELP!!!

When you’re not sure of what to do… Look it up! (websites, handouts, etc.)Look it up! (websites, handouts, etc.)

When in doubt about your citation… Write down some possibilities and then Write down some possibilities and then

ask for help OUTSIDE OF CLASSask for help OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Do the best you can with what you have The heart is what’s importantThe heart is what’s important