Listing+Sources+in+MLA+Format

Did you know there's an organization called the Modern Language Association that actually decides how writers should list their sources in reports/essays? The Modern Language Association (MLA) decides what periods, commas, etc., should go where. It's NOT important for you to memorize this. It IS important for you to know that in college, an English or history professor will not accept your research paper unless you've listed sources in MLA format. Want to know something weirder? A science professor will want your sources listed in APA format (American Psychological Association), which has different rules.


 * What's MOST important is this:** If you don't list your sources -- if you don't give credit to where you found information -- you're taking credit for someone else's work. Also, people will trust your writing far more if they see that you're using RESPECTED, credible (believable) sources of information.


 * __How to list sources (the rules of MLA):__**

Go to this website for a full list of the rules for all genres of information: http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm. However, I've listed some of the most common below:

"Title of Website as Listed on the Top of the Page." The date you accessed it. The website address (the http thing). //Examples// “George Washington and Slavery.” Accessed 24 February 2010. http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/meet_george/index.cfm/ss/101/. “Martha Washington”. Accessed 24 February 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Washington.
 * Listing a website as a source:**

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City in which it was published: Publisher, year it was published. //Example:// Lester, Julius. To Be A Slave. New York: Puffin, 2000.
 * Listing a book as a source:**


 * LIST YOUR SOURCES ALPHABETICALLY!!!**


 * For our historical fiction stories, I'm just asking you to list your sources like I've listed below. However, in high school and college, you'll list your sources under the heading "Works Cited" or "Bibliography".

__If you want to read MORE about these topics, I used these sources for my story:__** “George Washington and Slavery.” Accessed 24 February 2010. http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/meet_george/index.cfm/ss/101/. Lester, Julius. __To Be A Slave__. New York: Puffin, 2000. “Martha Washington”. Accessed 24 February 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Washington. Rinaldi, Ann. __Taking Liberty__. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2002. “Africans in America: The Revolutionary War.” Accessed 24 February 2010. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html. “The Will of George Washington.” Accessed 24 February 2010. http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/will/slavelist.html.