The following examples show how to document the basic types of sources used in most research papers in accordance with MLA guidelines. These are the basic formats only. If you have a source that does not fit one of the examples, refer to a grammar or style handbook or ask your instructor.
Book
1) Author’s name (last name first). 2) Title, including any subtitle if applicable (italicized). 3) Publication information (city: publisher, year).
a. Single Author:
Angelou, Maya. A Brave and Startling Truth. New York: Random, 1995.
b. Multiple Authors:
Hansen, Joanna and Michael Hodges. A Basic Reader for Grades K-12. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.
Work in an anthology (Selection contained in another book)
1) Author of selection (last name first). 2) Title of selection (usually in quotation marks depending on type of work). 3) Title of anthology (italicized). 4) Editor/Author of anthology (name in regular order preceded by: Ed.). 5) Publication information of anthology (city: publisher, year). 6) Inclusive page numbers of selection.
Gilman, Charlotte. "The Yellow Wallpaper." Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 6th ed. Eds. Edgar
V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 2001. 617-27.
Article in a magazine or newspaper (NOT online)
1) Author of article (last name first). 2) Title of article (in quotation marks). 3) Title of magazine (italicized). 4) Date and inclusive pages (a) monthly magazine- month year: pages. (b) weekly magazine- full date of issue (day month year): pages. (c) journal- volume # (year): pages. (d) newspaper- full date of edition: section letter (if applicable) pages.
a. Monthly
Barlow, John Perry. "Is There a There in Cyberspace?" Utne Reader March-April 1995:
53-56.
b. Weekly
Stresser, Stan. "Report from Cambodia." The New Yorker 18 May 1992: 43-75.
c. Journal
Diaz, Gwendolyn. "Desire and Discourse in Maria Luisa Bombal’s New Islands."
Hispanofila 112 (1994): 51-63.
d. Newspaper
Murphy, Sean P. "Decisions on Status of Tribes Draw Fire." Boston Globe 27 Mar. 2001: A2.
Internet source (NOT Database)
1) Author’s name (last name first). 2) Title of selection (usually in quotation marks depending on type of work). 3) Title of the site (italicized). 4) Date of electronic publication (or latest update). 5) Name of site’s sponsor organization (if different from site name and title). 6) Date of user’s access. 7) URL (electronic address) in angle brackets (< >).
Known author
Shiva, Vandana. "Bioethics: A Third World Issue." NativeWeb. 15 Sep. 2001
<http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/shiva.htm1>.
Unknown author
"Media Giants." The Merchants of Cool. 2001. PBS Online. 7 Mar. 2003
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/giants>.
Online subscription service or database (InfoTrac, EBSCOhost, ProQuest)
1) Author’s name (last name first). 2) Title of selection (usually in quotation marks depending on type of work). 3) Title of source document (i.e., magazine, newspaper, journal) (italicized). 4) Print source publication information (see 1, 2, or 3 above). 5) Name of the database (italicized). 6) Name of subscription service (i.e., InfoTrac, EBSCOhost, ProQuest ). 6) Name of the subscribing library. 7) Date of user’s access. 8) URL (electronic address) of the service in angle brackets (< >).
a.
Darnovsky, Marcy. "Embryo Cloning and Beyond." Tikkun July-Aug. 2002: 29-32. Academic Search Premier.
EBSCOhost. Nashville State Tech Community Coll. Lib., Nashville, TN. 26 June 2001.
<http://search.epnet.com>.
b.
Kolata, Gina. "Scientists Debating Future of Hormone Replacement." New York Times 23
Oct. 2002: A20. ProQuest. Drew Univ. Lib., Madison, NJ. 26 Nov. 2002 <http://www.proquest.com>.
Internet site found through a personal subscription service (AOL, Prodigy, etc)
1) Author’s name (last name first). 2) Title of selection (usually in quotation marks depending on type of work). 3) Title of source document (i.e., magazine, newspaper, journal) (italicized). 4) Print source publication information (see 1, 2, or 3 above). 5) Name of the subscription service 6) Date of user’s access. 7) Keyword used to retrieve the source.
Conniff, Richard. "The House That John Built." Smithsonian Feb. 2001. America Online. 11 Mar. 2001. Keyword:
Smithsonian Magazine.
Film on videotape or DVD
1) Title (italicized). 2) Director and starring actor’s names (preceded by Dir. and Perf. As appropriate). 3) The word, "Videocassette" or "DVD" as appropriate (without quotation marks). 4) Distributor. 5) Year of release.
The English Patient. Dir. Anthony Minghella. Perf. Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, and Kristin Scott
Thomas. Videocassette. Miramax, 1996.
Music CD
1) Composer. 2) Title of song (in quotation marks). 3) Performer/Artist’s name (if not the composer). 4) Orchestra and Conductor (if applicable). 5) Title of the CD, record, tape (italicized). 6) If other than a CD then include the type of media (i.e., Audiocassette). 7) Manufacturer. 8) Year of release.
Springsteen, Bruce. "Dancing in the Dark." Born in the U. S. A. Audiocassette. Columbia, 1984.
Sacred Text
1) Title of the edition from the title page. 2) Editor’s name (if applicable). 3) Publication information.
King James version of the Bible:
Holy Bible. Cleveland: World.
Other editions of the Bible:
Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1996.
Television program
1) Title of the segment or episode (in quotation marks). 2) Title of the program (italicized). 3) Writer (By), Director (Dir.), Performers (Perf.), or Host (Host) (as applicable). 4) Network. 5) Local Station. 6) Date broadcast.
"American Limbo." This American Life. Host Ira Glass. Public Radio Intl. WBEZ, Chicago. 9 Feb. 2001.