MLA Format Information

MLA Format For Research Papers-

Why MLA Format?

Modern Language Association

MLA format provides a consistent format for writing papers. It also guides students in documenting and citing their sources to avoid plagiarism.

You must cite your sources in order to be credible and use your voice with authority.

All information that is not common knowledge needs to be documented.

Check out: for information on Plagiarism and Its Consequences.

http://www.plagiarism.org/ This website has a great amount of information when learning how to cite your source.

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/avoid-plagiarism/

https://custom-writing.org/blog/time-out-for-your-brain/31220.html

__________________

NOT SURE WHAT TO PUT WHERE?? CHECK OUT THESE SOURCES!

http://www.studyguide.org/MLAdocumentation.htm

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/avoid-plagiarism/

___________________________________________________________

For further questions - use the writing lab at Purdue Online

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2

Online sites to help students cite their work.

http://www.bibme.org

http://easybib.com

http://workscited4you.com

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/avoid-plagiarism/

MLA PAGE FORMAT-
1" TOP MARGIN
1'SIDE MARGINS
DOUBLE SPACED LINES
TITLE MUST BE CENTERED
WORKS CITED MUST BE CENTERED AND UNDERLINED
NAME-
FIRST AND LAST
TEACHER'S FIRST AND LAST
CLASS NAME
DATE-DAY-MONTH-FULL YEAR
15 OCTOBER 2014

EVALUATING INTERNET WEBPAGES

C.A.R.S. Checklist for Evaluating Internet Sources

You should evaluate every web site you use for research or for personal information. The CARS checklist for evaluating internet sources is listed below. Ask yourself the following questions about each site and try to use only those that have the best evidence of credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support.

For more detailed information on using the CARS checklist, see:

http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Credibility:

Goal: A source that is created by a person or organization who knows the subject and who cares about its quality·

Is there a publishing or sponsoring organization? Is the organization an authority on the subject?

Is the author listed? Is the author an authority on the subject? How do you know?

Are there spelling errors, grammar errors, dead links, or other problems that indicate a lack of quality control?

Accuracy:

Goal: A source with information that is current, complete, and correct

Does the information on the site agree with other sources?

Does the site contradict itself?

What is the date of publication or copyright?

How recently has the site been updated?

Reasonableness:

Goal: A source that is truthful and unbiased

Does the author, host, publisher, or sponsor have a bias?

What is the motivation or purpose for creating the site?

(To sell a product? To advance a viewpoint or belief? To educate?)

Support:

Goal: A source with verifiable sources of information

Are the sources listed? Can they be checked?

Is there a way to contact the author or organization?

Where should you look to find this information?

Ideally, information such as the author, host organization, and publication date will be

easily located at either the top or bottom of the page. However, you may need to dig deeper:

You can find out about the host organization by looking at the URL, especially the domain name

(i.e., cnn.com, harvard.edu, cdc.gov). There are no universal rules for which domains are

good or bad, but the domain name can help you identify the host organization.

The information you need might even be on a different page. Try clicking on “About…” or

“Contact Us” to find more information. You can also just enter the domain name

without anything past the first slash (i.e., shorten “virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm” to

“virtualsalt.com”) and see what information you find.

Adapted with permission from: Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources."

http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Big6™ SKILLS OVERVIEW

Listed below are the six basic steps of the Big6™ model and components of each step commonly referred to as "the little twelve."

1. Task Definition

1.1 Define the information problem

1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem)

2. Information Seeking Strategies

2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)

2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)

3. Location and Access

3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)

3.2 Find information within sources

4. Use of Information

4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source

4.2 Extract relevant information from a source

5. Synthesis

5.1 Organize information from multiple sources

5.2 Present the information

6. Evaluation

6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)

6.2 Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency)

Task Definition

1.1 Define the information problem
- Outline the steps for preparing for physical education class & note if any information is required for any step
- Determine whether any of the activities for a science lab have some information requirement
1.2 Identify information needed in order to complete the task
- For each information-related activity in the same science lab, note whether it involves location and access, information use, or synthesis
- Realize that the assignment requires both looking around and labeling a map

Information Seeking Strategies

2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)
2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)
List where to find literary criticism information
Inventory all of the computer resources available in the school
Decide whether to ask an expert or use a reference book
Decide whether it is ok to use an encyclopedia for an assignment

Location and Access

3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
Find a particular book on the shelf
Draw and label a map of the library media center
Look up an article in the SIRS' Energy Series
Find an article on the current rock music scene using a periodical index on CD-ROM

Use of Information

4.1 Engage (e.g.) read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source
4.2 Extract relevant information from a source
Scan a book to determine its usefulness
Listen to an audio cassette of Tale of Two Cities
Take notes on bibliographic information for later use
Take notes on a magazine article

Synthesis

5.1 Organize information from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
Create a database on major cities of the Midwest
Put note cards (from multiple sources) in a logical order
Create a printout from a database
Draw and label a map of Africa

Evaluation

6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the information problem-solving process (efficiency)
Determine which note-taking techniques are working. State what you would do differently next time
Set criteria for judging anti-smoking posters
Determine whether the information need as originally defined is met.

OR DO IT YOURSELF-

Name:__________________________________ Team:____________

Working Bibliography (MLA 7 format)

Online Databases

(World Book Student, Culture Grams, Middle Search Plus, ABC-CLO American History, Biography In Contest, the GALE Virtual Library, and all EBSCO databases)

Is your information from Magazine or Newspaper or Book or Encyclopedia? (Circle one)

Title of Article:_________________________________

Author: ______________________________________

Title of magazine, newspaper, book or encyclopedia:

_____________________________________________

Database: _____________________________________

Date Accessed:

Online Databases

(World Book Student, Culture Grams, Middle Search Plus, ABC-CLO American History, Biography In Contest, the GALE Virtual Library, and all EBSCO databases)

Is your information from Magazine or Newspaper or Book or Encyclopedia? (Circle one)

Title of Article:_________________________________

Author: ______________________________________

Title of magazine, newspaper, book or encyclopedia:

__________________________________________

Database: _____________________________________

Date Accessed:

Web Site

Title of Web Site: _______________________________

Title of Web Page (Article): __________________________________________

Sponsor of site:_________________________________

Date Accessed:_________________________________

URL : _________________________________________

Web Site

Title of Web Site: _______________________________

Title of Web Page (Article): __________________________________________

Sponsor of site:_________________________________

Date Accessed:_________________________________

URL : __________________________________________

Personal Interview

Interviewer (Probably You):

__________________________________________

Interviewee (Person you interviewed):

__________________________________________

Title of Interview:

__________________________________________

Date interviewed: _______________________________

Medium: (Circle one)

Phone Email In person

Personal Interview

Interviewer (Probably You):

__________________________________________

Interviewee (Person you interviewed):

__________________________________________

Title of Interview:

__________________________________________

Date interviewed: _______________________________

Medium: (Circle one)

Phone Email In person

Name_________________________________ Team ____________________

Are Your Sources Reliable?

Print Sources

Book (Print)

Author: ________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________

Place of Publication_______________________________

Publisher:_________________________________

Copyright Date: __________________________________

ISBN (Optional) __________________________________

Book (Print)

Author: ________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________

Place of Publication_______________________________

Publisher:_________________________________

Copyright Date: __________________________________

ISBN (Optional) __________________________________

Encyclopedia/Reference Book (Print)

Author ( If Given): ________________________________

Title of Encyclopedia:

__________________________________________

Title of Article:

__________________________________________

Year Published: __________________________________

Page (s)_________________________________________

Encyclopedia/Reference Book (Print)

Author ( If Given): ________________________________

Title of Encyclopedia:

__________________________________________

Title of Article:

__________________________________________

Year Published: __________________________________

Page (s)_________________________________________

Magazine Article (Print)

Title of Magazine: ________________________________

Title of Article: ___________________________________

Author: ________________________________________

Date Published: __________________________________

Page (s) : ________________________________________

Magazine Article (Print)

Title of Magazine: ________________________________

Title of Article: ___________________________________

Author: ________________________________________

Date Published: __________________________________

Page (s) : ________________________________________

OUTLINE FOR YOUR RESEARCH PAPER-

Name___________________________________ Outline Worksheet

1. Introduction-

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

A. Background-______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Thesis Statement- _______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________(First subtopic)

A.__________________________________________________________________________(First Point)

1._____________________________________________________________(supporting evidence)