Why Use MLA?

Daniels

11th Grade

Formatting the Paper

HeadingFontMargins

What Goes in a Paper Heading?NameInstructor’s Name Paper TitleDate

Paper Heading Example

Susan GarciaMr. DanielsResearch Paper Assessment Committee29 March, 2010

Title PageMUST have for the Graduation ProjectWhat’s on the title page?

Title / Name / Class / Professor / Date

Title Page Example

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

By

Mary K. Lindsay

English 11

Research Paper Assessment Committee

29 March, 2010

TitlesDo not punctuate your title, unless you are using someone else’s work.Title must be specific to your paper’s topic.Make it interesting!Between 6-8 words

Source CardsWhat are they?They are index cards on which you put all of the information you will need about all the sources you use.

But Why Do I Need To Do

Them?They will help you to:

- Identify the sources of quotations and ideas

for citing your sources.- Find sources again if

you need them- Make your “works cited” (bibliography)

list

How to Do It!

-Use index cards to make your source cards.

- Use only one source per card.

- Give each source its own number, starting with number 1. You will later link your notes to these numbers.

Book Source1

Twain, Mark.The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnCleveland: Double Day, 1947.

RMSH

345fic

WISEOWL Source2

Wasserman, Selma.“What Can Schools Become?”American History Sept./Oct. 1996: 24-28

WISEOWL

Interview Source3

Baker-Smith, Jennifer. Personal Interview. 27 Oct. 2008

RMHS

Web Source4

Axton, Myles.“How Prevalent Is Filovirus Exposure Worldwide?”Outbreak: Ebola Science and Medicine. ed. David Omstein. 1996. 30 Dec. 2008

http://outbreak.org/cgi-unreg/dynaserve.exe/ebola/Ebolaprevalence.html.

RMHS

Internet Sources and No Page

NumberUse paragraph numbersFor example: (Moulthrop, pars. 19-20).

Multiple AuthorsTwo or Three

Authors:

Eggins, Suzanne, and Diane Slade. Analyzing Casual Conversation. London: Cassell, 1997.

More Than Three Authors:

Gilman, Sander, et al. Hysteria Beyond Freud. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993.

Note Cards- Why Do It?

- It is useful to take notes on index cards because it gives you

the flexibility to change the order of

your notes and group them together

easily. - You can buy a few

packages of 3x5 index cards at most

drugstores or stationary stores.

How Do I Do It? (1)

Write the SLUG of the note at the top of each note card.Write only one main point on a note card.Only write information directly related to your SLUG.Write only essential words, abbreviate when possible.

How Do I Do It? (2)

Be accurate; double check direct quotes and statistics.Identify direct quotes with quotations marks and the person’s name.Bracket your own words [ * ] when you add them into a quote.Include the source’s number on the card.

How Do I Do It? (3)

Write the page number of the source after the note.Use the word ‘over’ to indicate information on the back of the card.

Sample Note Card Facts: Childhood Obesity 1

Studies show that approximately 7 out of 10 children who live in the U.S. have been clinically diagnosed as obese. Pg. 37

(I wonder if I can find out if a study has been done on ethnic groups and their correlation to obesity)(I remember reading something about the Lumbee Indians)

Note Card and

Source Cards

Source One: “All Dogs Go

to Heaven”

Behavior of Dogs “…” (1)

Doggy Relationsh

ips “…” (2)

Source Two: “The Fox and

The Hound”

Doggy Relationsh

ips “…” (1)

Dogs have Souls “…”

(2)

Behavior of Dogs “…” (3)

Source Three:

“It’s a Dog Eat Dog World”

Dogs have Souls “…”

(1)

Doggy Relationsh

ips “…” (2)

1) SAVE WORK OFTEN!

2) Only use “you” in the conclusion!

3) Do it right & take your time!

END OF SECTION (1)NEXT:

Outlines / Introduction / Body / Formatting / Works Cited

OutlinesThere are two types of outlines

Topic:Words and Phrases

Sentence:Made up of complete sentencesBase your outline on the time that you have

You can do a combination of both!

How To Do It- Start by separating your SLUGS.- Check to make sure you have given

each card a SLUG and a paragraph / page number.

- Give your primary source cards a SLUG too!

- Organize cards in the order you want them to appear in your outline

The Introduction!Introduction

Creative sentence about topic

Interesting information about topic

Thesis statement (ITALICS)

Points to prove (SLUGS)

The Body (1)Start by placing all your SLUGS next to the ROMAN NUMERALS (I. II. III. IV. V.)

Next, divide each SLUG into 2-5 main points. (A, B, C, etc…)

Types of VegetariansA.Basic

VegetarianB.VeganC. Other

The Body (2)Now, provide details about each division of the SLUG. Use: NUMBERS1. Types of Vegetarians

A. Basic Vegetarian1. What is it?2. What they eat

B. Vegan1. What is it?2. What they eat

Using your note card, place the source number and card number beside the details.

The Body (3)I. Types of Vegetarians

A. Basic Vegetarian1. What is it? 2-1, 3-4, 6-12. What they eat. 2-3, 2-2, 4-1B. Vegan1. What is it? 4-22. What they eat. 3-2, 3-3C. Other Variations1. Pesco and Pollo. 1-2, 1-3, 1-42. Ovo and Lacto. 1-5, 1-6

ConclusionOverall, researching the lifestyle of a Vegan proved to be extremely informative.

Summarize your finds: Include Thesis.

End with a “zinger” / SUCK UP

Stuff You Need To Know!

Punctuating Titles:

Short published works in “quotation marks”ARTCILEST.V. EPISODESSHORT STORIES

Italics- Names of Companies- Names of

Divisions within a company

- Brand Names- Historical Events

Long Works in Italics or

Underlined- Newspaper / Magazine

Titles

- Books

- TV Programs

- Symphonies

- Works of Art

- Plays

- Movies

Documenting Within Your Paper

(1)It may be true that “in the appreciation of medieval art the attitude of the observer is of primary importance” (Robertson 136).Direct Quotes1. Use quotations marks2. Use author’s last name and page

number3. The period goes behind the page

number

Documenting Within Your Paper

(2)It may be true, as Robertson maintains, that “in the appreciation of medieval art the attitude of the observer is of primary importance” (136).

1. Because the author’s name is in the text, you do not need to put it in the brackets.

2. Notice that the period is still at the end, not behind the last word

*** REMEMBER! You only want 8-15 direct quotes in your paper!

Documenting Within Your Paper

(3)It may be true, as Robertson maintains, that the art lover’s perspective is key to his or her appreciation of medieval art (136).1. Notice that the author’s name is in the sentence.2. This is a paraphrase, but still gives credit to the author.

Documenting Within Your Paper

(4)In the novel, Oliver Twist, Oliver bravely asks, “Please, sir, I want some more” (Dickens 14). The master of the work house is astonished that an orphan could be so bold. He replies, ‘What!’ said the master at length, in a faint voice” (14). The above is just one example of many that proves that orphans tend to develop coping skills in an effort to prevent further emotional damage (Baker-Smith para. 1-2). Baker-Smith continues to state that orphans generally lack the ability to bond emotionally to others (para. 3)

1. Notice that the writer has used several types of documentation

2. If the quotes / paraphrases used are from the same source, only provide the last name the first time. After that, just use the page number.

3. But, if you change sources, you must indicate that by using the 2nd author’s last name and page.

Quotes from Authors

According to Harold Bloom, “Charles Dickens was the most prolific author of the Victorian Age” (Bloom 122). In Dickens's novel Bleak House, the narrator prepares us for Joe’s imminent death, “Fast. The cart is shaken all to pieces, and the rugged road is very near its end” (Dickens 603).

Why is Dickens documented?

Work CitedThis is always the last page in a paper.

It is a separate page, but is numbered consecutively.

The page is titled ‘Work Cited’. No underling, quotes, or fancy fonts.

Use your source cards to complete it.

Put it in alphabetical order.

Double spaced!

If the source is longer that 1 line ,indent the 2nd line.

More Stuff You Need To Know!

1. Don’t forget your Title Page2. Don’t forget your header on the first

page!3. Don’t forget your title!4. Don’t forget to put your thesis in italics!5. Do not forget to number your pages!6. You can do a graph!!! 5 Points EXTRA!!!