mla documentation style writing resources center
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MLA Documentation Style
Writing Resources Center
http://wrc.uncc.edu/
Writing Resources Center (WRC)Locations:
149 Cameron109 Atkins LibraryCenter for Graduate Life (CGL)
Phone:
704-687-1899 E-mail:
Web:http://wrc.uncc.edu/
Appointments:
http://rich65.com/uncc/
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Integrating Sources & Avoiding Plagiarism
Writers need to understand current definitions of plagiarism, which have changed over time, and which differ from culture to culture.
Adapted from:Lunsford, Andrea. The Everyday Writer . 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. Print.
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What is “P lag i ar i sm ”?
In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.
This definition applies to texts published in print or online, to manuscripts, and to the work of other students.
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What is NOT Plagiarism?
Most current discussions of plagiarism fail to distinguish between plagiarism and misuse of sources.
A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, the student has failed to cite and document sources appropriately.
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Plagiarism Is a Cultural Concept Many cultures do not recognize Western notions
of plagiarism, which rest on the belief that language and ideas can be “owned” by writers.
In many countries other than the U.S., using the words and ideas of others without attribution is considered a sign of respect as well as an indication of knowledge.
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Materials That Require Acknowledgement
Quotations, paraphrases, summaries Facts not widely known or claims that are
arguable Help provided by others
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Materials That Do NOT RequireAcknowledgementIn academic writing in the U.S., you should
credit allmaterials except:
Common knowledge Ideas available in a wide variety of sources Your own findings from primary or field
research
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Understand Why to Credit Sources Show that you are a knowledgeable and
credible researcher. Demonstrate fairness—that you have
considered multiple points of view. Provide background for your research by
placing it in the context of the work of others. Help readers follow your thoughts and
understand how your ideas relate to those of others.
Point readers where to go to find more information on your subject.
Avoid Misuse of Sources
Frequently, students unintentionally misuse sources when they attempt to paraphrase: to rephrase someone else’s ideas into your own words and sentence patterns.
Paraphrasing
“The rise of industry, the growth of cities, and the expansion of thepopulation were the three great developments of late nineteenth
centuryAmerican history. As new, larger, steam-powered factories became afeature of the American landscape in the East, they transformed farmhands into industrial laborers, and provided jobs for a rising tide ofimmigrants. With industry came urbanization, the growth of large
cities(like Fall River, Massachusetts, where the Bordens lived), which
becamethe centers of production as well as of commerce and trade.”
Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.
Unacceptable Paraphrase
The increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the explosion of the
population were three large factors of nineteenth century America. As
steam-driven companies became more visible in the eastern part of the
country, they changed farm hands into factory workers and provided jobs
for the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the growth of large
cities like Fall River where the Bordens lived, which turned into centers of
commerce and trade as well as production.
An Unacceptable Paraphrase Is
Too Close to the OriginalThe increase of industry, the growth of cities, and the
explosion of thepopulation were three large factors of nineteenth century
America. Assteam-driven companies became more visible in the
eastern part of thecountry, they changed farm hands into factory workers and
provided jobsfor the large wave of immigrants. With industry came the
growth of largecities like Fall River where the Bordens lived, which turned
into centers ofcommerce and trade as well as production.
Acceptable Paraphrase
According to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where the
Borden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of the
Nineteenth century. Steam-powered production had shifted labor from
agriculture to manufacturing, and as immigrants arrived in the U.S., they
found work in these new factories. As a result, populations grew, and large
urban areas arose. Fall River was one of these manufacturing and commercial centers (200).
Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.
What Makes a Good Paraphrase? Uses your own words and sentence patterns Demonstrates your inferential thought
processes Rather than being merely a faithful
reproduction of the ideas in source text, an effective paraphrase is one that expresses your perspective.
Includes a citation.
Acceptable Paraphrase with QuotationAccording to Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson, Fall River, where theBorden family lived, was typical of northeastern industrial cities of thenineteenth century. As labor shifted from agriculture to
manufacturing, thedemand for workers “transformed farm hands into factory workers,”
andcreated jobs for immigrants. In turn, growing populations increased
thesize of urban areas. Fall River was one of these manufacturing hubs
thatwere also “centers of commerce and trade” (200).
Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.
Acceptable Paraphrase with QuotationFall River, where the Borden family lived, was typical of northeasternindustrial cities of the nineteenth century. As labor shifted from
agricultureto manufacturing, the demand for workers “transformed farm hands
intofactory workers,” and created jobs for immigrants. In turn, growingpopulations increased the size of urban areas. Fall River was one of
thesemanufacturing hubs that were also “centers of commerce and trade”(Williams, Smithburn, and Peterson 200).
Williams, Joyce G., Eric Smithburn, and M. Jeanne Peterson, eds. Lizzie Borden: A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s.Bloomington, IN: TIS Publications, 1980. Print.
Paraphrasing Accurately
Include all main points, in the order of the original.
State the author’s meaning in your own words and sentence structures.
If you use language from the original, enclose in quotation marks.
Include an in-text citation. Provide a complete citation in your Works
Cited.
MLA is One—of Many—Citation Styles MLA – Modern Language Association
(humanities)
APA – American Psychological Association (social sciences, business)
CMS or Chicago Manual of Style (history)
CSE – Council of Science Editors (sciences)
IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (engineering)
Key Points
Citation machines are helpful, but can be inaccurate.
As you move from one field to another, find out the preferred citation style and practice it.
Citing sources is not about memorizing rules; it is about learning to use available resources to help you give credit to other writers for their words and ideas.
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Significant Changes in the 2009MLA Handbook, 7th ed. No Underlining. Titles of books, periodicals,
films, etc. are now italicized.
No URLs. Include the URL only if the citation information does not lead readers easily to the source.
Continuous Pagination? Who Cares? For all scholarly journal entries, both volume and issue numbers are now required, regardless of pagination.
Significant Changes in the 2009MLA Handbook, 7th ed. Publication Medium. Most will be listed as Print or
Web. Other possibilities include Performance, DVD, TV. Most designations appear at the end of entries; however, markers for Web sources are followed by the date of access.
New Abbreviations. Many Web entries now require a publisher name, a date of publication, and/or page numbers. When no publisher name appears on the website, write N.p. for no publisher given. When sites omit a date of publication, write n.d. for no date. For online journals that appear only online or on databases that do not provide pagination, write n. pag. for no pagination.
Print MLA Resources
The 2009 7th edition of the MLA Handbook (blue cover) is available; however, some instructors may still use the 6th edition (silver cover). Ask your professor.
Copies of these manuals are available in Atkins Library.
MLA Sample Papers
From the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed.
From Diana Hacker’s Research & Documentation Online
MLA Documentation Resources UNCC Writing Resources Center (WRC)
Purdue U. Online Writing Lab (OWL)
UNCC Atkins Library
Writing Resources Center (WRC)Locations:
220 Fretwell109 Atkins Library
Phone:
704-687-HELP (4357) E-mail:
Web:http://wrc.uncc.edu/
Appointments:
http://rich65.com/uncc/
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