Modern Language Association (MLA) Works Cited Format

Terms to know:

• Bibliography - description of books used for research (because other media in addition to books are used, bibliography is often inaccurate)
• Works Cited - all works that have actual references/quotations in your paper
• Works Consulted - includes works that are referenced in papers and other works used for general information, even if not cited
• Annotated Bibliography or Annotated List of Works Cited - added description of the work or its use in the research

"In citing books, normally arrange the information in the following order:

1. Author’s name
2. Title of a part of the book
3. Title of the book
4. Name of the editor, translator, or compiler
5. Edition used
6. Number(s) of the volume(s) used
7. Name of the series
8. Place of publication, name of the publisher, and date of publication
9. Page numbers
10. Supplementary bibliographic information and annotation"

A book by a single author:
Lastname, firstname.  Title.  City: Publisher, 19xx.

Thaler, E. How I Took Over the World.  Neverland: In My Dreams
     Inc., 1992.



An anthology or compilation:
Editorlast, editorfirst, ed.  Title.  City: Publisher, 19xx.

Rivera, R., ed.  The World’s Greatest Poetry.  New York: Nobel
     Prize Limited, 1984.



A book by two or more persons:
Firstauthor, first name and Firstname, Secondauthor.  Title.  
     City: Publisher, 19xx.

Gibaldi, Joseph and Walter S. Achtert.  MLA Handbook for Writers
     of Research Papers. 3rd ed.  New York: The Modern Language 
     Association of America, 1988.



A book by a corporate author:
Corporationorassociation.  Title.  City: Publisher, 19xx.

National Endowment for the Humanities.  Integrating Multicultural 
     Literature into the High School Classroom.  Chicago: Clark 
     Atlanta University, 1997.



An anonymous book:
Title.  City:  Publisher, 19xx.

Modern World Atlas.  London: American Map Company, 1956.


A work in an anthology:
Lastauthor, firstauthor.  "Title of Piece."  Title of Book.  
     Ed. Editorname. City: Publisher, 19xx.  123-456.

Berta, N.  "The Perfect Student."  New Age Philosophies of 
     Teaching.  Ed. Ken Howell.  Los Angeles: Teacher
     Publishing, 1975.  5-10.

A translation:
Lastauthor, firstauthor.  Title.  Trans. Translatorname.  City:
     Publisher, 19xx.

Calvino, Italo.  Baron in the Trees.  Trans. Frank Pajares.  
     Miami: American Italy Press, 1970.

An article in a reference book:
Lastauthor, firstauthor.  "Article Title."  Title of Book.  
     Vol. X.  19xx.

Hamburg, M.  "Alliteration."  MLA Guide on Poetry.  5th ed.  1983.

"Guam."  Encyclopedia Britannia.  1996 ed.

INTERNET/CD-ROM Entries (not yet officially approved by MLA)

1. the author's name (if known)
2. the full title of the document in quotation marks
3. the title of the complete work if applicable underlined
4. the date of publication or last revision (if available)
5. the full http address (URL) enclosed within angle brackets
6. the date of visit in parentheses

Thaler, E.  "Works Cited Format." DRThaler’s Method of Madness.
     1997.  <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1298>
     (4 Oct. 1997).

Lipshutz, Randy. (1995, December).  Marriage Rituals,
     [Electronic]. Available: Barrington Research CD-ROM.