MLA – In-textual citation options for research based paper

*The general rule for citations is that the writer must reference the author, page #, and title of the source

* Once the writer has referred to the title of a source and its author, he/she may edit their paper by referring to the writer’s last name and the page number only. The exceptions to this would be if he/she is using more than one source by the same author and/or if more than one of the writer’s sources has authors with the same last name.

*The context of the sentence must mention 1 or 2 of the pieces of information for the source; the remaining 1 or 2 pieces of information go inside the parenthetical citation. Never put all 3 things inside the parenthetical.

*Try to mix up your options throughout your paper, interweaving quotes fluidly with your analysis. And never leave a quote by itself; always contextualize your quotes into a complete sentence and have plenty of commentary to go with the quote.

Let us say that your paper is something specific about the topic of conformity in America and you have thenovel The Awakening by Kate Chopin, and in this book on page 72 the speaker says the protagonist Edna Pontellier has “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions” (72). Here are the different options for your citations.

The following options are with 2 pieces of information in the sentence and 1 in the parenthetical.

  1. (author’s name in the parenthetical) One author has written on page 72 of her book The Awakening that the protagonist Edna Pontellier exhibits, “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (Kate Chopin).
  2. (title in the parenthetical)The narrator argues on page 72 of Kate Chopin’s book that the protagonist Edna Pontellier exudes, “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (The Awakening).
  3. (page # in the parenthetical) In her book The AwakeningKate Chopin has noted that the protagonist Edna Pontellier conveys, “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (72).

The following options are with 1 piece of information in the sentence and 2 in the parenthetical.

  1. (author’s name and page # in the parenthetical) According to the narrator ofThe Awakening its protagonist Edna Pontellier has“that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (Kate Chopin 72).
  2. (author’s name and title in the parenthetical) On page 72 of another book it reads, “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (Kate ChopinThe Awakening).
  3. (title and page # in the parenthetical) Kate Chopin articulates that her protagonist Edna Pontellier portrays, “that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (The Awakening 72).

*If you are summarizing or paraphrasing a passage you still need the author’s name, the title and the page #

*For quotes that are longer than 3 lines of typed text, you have to separate the passage from the rest of your essay. After contextualizing the quote with the subject and verb (phrase) hit the Enter button once to move down to the next line. Hit the Tab button twice to indent. Type the passage, maintaining double-spacing and the indention. Put the parenthetical after the passage. When the passage is over adjust your margins back to left justified and continue with your analysis.