Including Print Materials in Your MLA Format Paper

Including Print Materials in Your MLA Format Paper

When working on a paper in MLA format, it's common to come across print materials such as books, articles, and newspaper clippings that you need to cite. While online sources are increasingly popular, print materials still play an important role in research and academic writing. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of including print materials in your MLA format paper.

Tip 1: Determine the Type of Print Material

To correctly cite a print material in MLA format, you need to determine its type. The most common types are:

• Books
• Articles (from books or periodicals)
• Newspaper clippings
• Magazine articles
• Journal articles

Each type has its own specific citation guidelines.

Tip 2: Format Book Citations

Book citations in MLA format typically include the following elements:

• Author's last name and page number(s) if applicable
• Title of the book
• Publication date
• Publisher

Here's an example of a book citation:

Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Book. City: Publisher, Year. Page Number.

Example: Smith, John. The History of Science. New York: Random House, 2010. 23-25.

Tip 3: Format Article Citations

Article citations in MLA format typically include the following elements:

• Author's last name and page number(s) if applicable
• Title of the article
• Title of the publication (if different from the author)
• Publication date
• Page numbers

Here's an example of an article citation:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title of the Article." Title of the Publication, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.

Example: Johnson, Mary. "The Impact of Climate Change." The New York Times, 10 Jan. 2020, pp. A1-A3.

Tip 4: Use the Periodical Database

If you're citing a magazine article or journal article, you'll need to use the periodical database in MLA format. This includes the following elements:

• Author's last name and page number(s) if applicable
• Title of the article
• Title of the publication
• Publication date
• Volume and issue numbers (if applicable)
• Page numbers

Here's an example of a periodical citation:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title of the Article." Title of the Publication, vol. Issue Number, Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.

Example: Williams, Jane. "The Future of Education." Journal of Educational Research, vol. 12, no. 3, Oct./Nov. 2019, pp. 23-27.

Tip 5: Include Print Materials in Your Works Cited Page

When citing print materials in your MLA format paper, make sure to include the following information on your Works Cited page:

• Lastname, Firstname. Title of the Source. City: Publisher, Year.
• If applicable:
  • Page numbers (if cited)
  • Volume and issue numbers (if applicable)

For example, if you're citing a book with page numbers, your Works Cited entry would look like this:

Smith, John. The History of Science. New York: Random House, 2010. Print.

If you're citing a newspaper clipping or article, your Works Cited entry might include volume and issue numbers: Johnson, Mary. "The Impact of Climate Change." The New York Times, vol. 12, no. 10, 10 Jan. 2020, pp. A1-A3.

Conclusion

Including print materials in your MLA format paper requires attention to detail and adherence to specific citation guidelines. By following these tips and examples, you'll be able to accurately cite books, articles, newspaper clippings, and other print sources in your academic writing.