Introduction: MLA Work Cited Citations
This is what a proficient MLA style Works Cited page looks like. In this instructable, I will show you how to make a proficient MLA style works cited page for your research paper.
First, I will teach you how to cite an electronic source, such as a website. This is probably the most common type of source you will use in a research paper.
Next, I will make sure that you know how to format your sources correctly in a MLA works cited page.
I know this is not the most fun activity in the world, and you might wish, I was showing you how to bake cookies, or crochet a hat, but this is a very important skill.
You need to be able to document where your information comes from and give credit to your sources in a uniform and standardized way.
Step 1: Recognize a Proficient and Not Proficient Works Cited Citation and MLA Works Cited Page
You will need to know how to create your citation AND how to put your citations into a Works Cited page. Above you will see several works cited pages that are done incorrectly.
Can you spot some of the errors?
The students who turned in these Works Cited pages did NOT pass their paper.
I want YOU to pass your paper.
Step 2: Here Is a Proficient Citation for an Electronic Source and a Proficient MLA Works Cited
In the images above, there is an example of a proficient citation for an electronic source
AND
a proficient MLA Works Cited.
This is what you will be able to do when you finish this instructable.
This should not be the first time you have created a citation or a Works Cited. If you were at King Kekaulike High School the last three years you completed at least one each year in English. For example in your essay on Shakespeare, College, Environmental Issue and for your Jr. Research paper.
Everybody needs help with this process. You will use the tools provided to help you create your own citations and Works Cited. The tools will be available to you as you work through the instructable and any time you are working on creating citations and creating a Works Cited page. You do not have to memorize anything.
Step 3: Creating a MLA Citation for an Electronic Source
When you watch the video above, I show you how to format your citation for an electronic source (such as a website). When you format your citation, you can always have a guide to model your own citation after.
No one expects you to memorize the correct rules for capitalization or font style. You just need to plug the information from your source into the correct format.
Sometimes it is hard to find all the information that you need. However, if you have picked a credible source, you should have enough information to create a proper citation.
Here is the format your citation should follow:
General Format:
Author Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Company or organization responsible for website (if different from title of website), Publication date if available, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Note: Months are abbreviated by the first three letters and a period except May, June and July.
Here are two samples:
Bowers, Jeremy. "The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever." National Public Radio, 2 July 2015, apps.npr.org/commencement/. Accessed 27 July 2018.
Regas, Diane. “Three Key Energy Policies That Can Help Us Turn the Corner on Climate.” Environmental Defense Fund, 1 June 2016, www.edf.org/blog/2016/06/01/3-key-energy-policies... Accessed 19 July 2016.
Step 4: Create a Citation for This Credible Electronic Source. Use the Instructions and Models to Help.
Now it is your turn:
Create a citation for this credible electronic source. Use the instructions and models to help.
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Company or organization responsible for website (if different from title of website), Publication date if available, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Sample:
Regas, Diane. “Three Key Energy Policies That Can Help Us Turn the Corner on Climate.” Environmental Defense Fund, 1 June 2016, www.edf.org/blog/2016/06/01/3-key-energy-policies... Accessed 19 July 2016.
Here is the link to the source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-science-of-sunscreen
Step 5: Check Your Citation-Does It Match?
Here is a correct MLA citation for this source:
“The Science of Sunscreen.” Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School, 15 Feb.
2021, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-scienc... . Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Does your citation match?
The date assessed should be different, and should be today's date. Everything else should match.
Note: There is no author, so the first word in the citation is the title of the article.
Step 6: Let's Try Again and See If Your MLA Citation Is Proficient!
Now it is your turn:
Create a citation for this credible electronic source. Use the instructions and models to help.
Format: Author Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Company or organization responsible for website (if different from title of website), Publication date if available, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Sample: Regas, Diane. “Three Key Energy Policies That Can Help Us Turn the Corner on Climate.” Environmental Defense Fund, 1 June 2016, www.edf.org/blog/2016/06/01/3-key-energy-policies... Accessed 19 July 2016.
Here is the link to the source: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/shedding-more-light-sunscreen-absorption
Step 7: Check Your Citation-Does It Match?
Here is a correct MLA citation for this source:
Teresa, Michelle. “Shedding More Light on Sunscreen on Sunscreen Absorption.” US Food and
Drug Administration, 21 July 2020, www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/shedding-more-... Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Does your citation match?
The date assessed should be different, and should be today's date. Everything else should match.
Step 8: Let's Try One More to Make Sure We Have It Down! Create a Citation for This Credible Source.
The third time is a charm, so let's see if that is true for you!
Create a citation for this credible electronic source.
Use the instructions and models to help.
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Company or organization responsible for website (if different from title of website), Publication date if available, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Sample:
Regas, Diane. “Three Key Energy Policies That Can Help Us Turn the Corner on Climate.” Environmental Defense Fund, 1 June 2016, www.edf.org/blog/2016/06/01/3-key-energy-policies... Accessed 19 July 2016.
Here is the link to the source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190722-sunscreen-safe-or-toxic
Step 9: Check Your Citation-Does It Match?
Here is a correct MLA citation for this source:
Brown, Jessica. “Sunscreen: What Science Says About Ingredient Safety.” Future. BBC News.
22 July 2019, /www.bbc.com/future/article/20190722-sunscreen-safe-or-toxic. Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Does your citation match?
The date assessed should be different, and should be today's date. Everything else should match.
Step 10: Putting Citations Into a MLA Works Cited Page
Now, let's put the correct citations all together in a MLA style Works Cited page. When you create your MLA Works Cited page, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. The Works Cited Page is always on a separate page.
2. The title should be centered, Times New Roman size 12, not underlined, bolded or in italics
3. The citations need to be in alphabetical order by the key word. The key word is the first word in the citation.
4. The entire works cited needs to be double spaced.
5. Citation entries should have a hanging indent.
The sample above has ALL of the above qualities!
Step 11: Determine If the Following Works Cited in the Google Form Below Are Proficient or Not Proficient
The following google form has examples of six Works Cited pages. Three are proficient and three are not proficient. Take the quiz and see if you can determine which Works Cited pages are proficient.
If they are not proficient, you can select what area is of concern. For example, a missing title, not alphabetized, not double spaced, or not a correct hanging indent.
The correct answers are given at the end of the quiz, so you can see how you did.
Feel free to take the quiz as many times as you need. You want to be able to determine the criteria needed for a proficient MLA Works Cited. It is helpful to have correct models and to know what you should not be doing.
Step 12: Watch This Instructional Video (5 Minutes) on How to Format Your MLA Works Cited.
Watch this instructional video (5 minutes) on how to format your MLA Works Cited.
This will take you through all the steps that you need to create your own MLA Works Cited.
Remember:
1. The Works Cited Page is always on a separate page.
2. The title should be centered, Times New Roman size 12, not underlined, bolded or in italics
3. The citations need to be in alphabetical order by the key word.
4. The entire works cited needs to be double spaced.
5. Citation entries should have a hanging indent.
Step 13: Test Yourself! See If You Can Format a Works Cited Page Given Citations. You Can Go Back to the Video If You Need To.
Now, it is time to test yourself.
You learned how to create a citation for an electronic source.
You took a quiz and determined if sample Works Cited pages were proficient or not.
You selected problem areas in not proficient works cited.
You viewed a video on how to format a MLA Works Cited.
Now. lets see if you can correctly format a MLA Works Cited page given the following information:
“Skin Cancer.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 9 Apr. 2020,
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-saf... Accessed 1 Apr. 2021
“The Science of Sunscreen.” Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School, 15 Feb. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-scienc... . Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Teresa, Michelle. “Shedding More Light on Sunscreen on Sunscreen Absorption.”. US Food and Drug Administration, 21 July 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-scienc... Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Brown, Jessica. “Sunscreen: What Science Says About Ingredient Safety.” Future. BBC News. 22 July 2019, /www.bbc.com/future/article/20190722-sunscreen-safe-or-toxic. Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
“Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs.” National Ocean Service. NOAA. 26 Feb. 2021, oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html.Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.
Step 14: Check Your Work!
Compare your Works Cited with the proficient one below.
Does it match?
Use the rubric above to grade your own work!
Step 15: Congratulations!
You made it to the end. I am sorry you don't have fresh cookies to eat or a new crochet hat to wear.
BUT you do know how to do 2 very important things:
1. Create a citation for an electronic source in MLA style.
2. Create a MLA Works Cited page.
You can always come back to this instructable when it is time to write your own paper. You can use the guides and videos found here to make sure your work is proficient. If you are a King Kekaulike student, you can email me with questions: lpopata@kkhs.k12.hi.us
I hope you had fun. Now, go eat some cookies or start crocheting that hat!
