The Structure of an MLA Works Cited Page for Students

The Structure of an MLA Works Cited Page for Students

When working on academic projects in the Modern Language Association (MLA) format, properly citing sources is crucial. The Works Cited page serves as a comprehensive list of all sources used in your research paper, providing readers with information about the sources you consulted. In this article, we will break down the structure of an MLA Works Cited page, providing concrete tips and examples to help you navigate this often-overwhelming task.

Section 1: Understanding the Basic Components

The MLA Works Cited page consists of several basic components that provide the necessary information for each source cited. These components include:

• Author's name (if available)
• Title of the work in title case (if applicable)
• Publication date
• Page numbers (if applicable)

Here is a sample format:

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Example: Smith, John. The History of Literature. Random House, 2010.

Section 2: Citing Print Sources

For print sources, such as books and articles, you will need to include the following information:

• Author's name (if available)
• Title of the work in title case (if applicable)
• Publication date
• Page numbers (if applicable)

Here are some examples:

• Book:
  • Smith, John. The History of Literature. Random House, 2010. Print.
  • Johnson, Jane. The Art of Writing. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005. Print. 23-25.
• Article:
  • Johnson, Jane. "The Benefits of Writing." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2010, pp. 12-20.

Section 3: Citing Online Sources

For online sources, such as websites and e-books, you will need to include the following information:

• Author's name (if available)
• Title of the work in title case (if applicable)
• Publication date
• URL or DOI (if applicable)

Here are some examples:

• Website:
  • Johnson, Jane. "The Benefits of Writing." The Literary Review, 2010, www.literarereview.com/benefits-of-writing.
  • Smith, John. "A Brief History of Literature." History.com, 2020, history.com/a-brief-history-of-literature.
• E-book:
  • Johnson, Jane. The Art of Writing. W.W. Norton & Company, 2015. eBook, www.norton.com/art-of-writing.

Section 4: Citing Journal Articles and Book Chapters

For journal articles and book chapters, you will need to include the following information:

• Author's name (if available)
• Title of the work in title case (if applicable)
• Publication date
• Page numbers (if applicable)

Here are some examples:

• Journal Article:
  • Johnson, Jane. "The Benefits of Writing." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2010, pp. 12-20.
• Book Chapter:
  • Smith, John. "The History of Literature." The Art of Writing. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, pp. 15-25.

Section 5: Citing Multiple Sources

When citing multiple sources from the same author or publication date, you can use the following format:

• If all sources have the same title and publication date:
  • Smith, John. The History of Literature. Random House, 2010.
  • Johnson, Jane. "The Benefits of Writing." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2010.
• If sources have different titles or publication dates:
  • Smith, John. The History of Literature. Random House, 2010.
  • Johnson, Jane. The Art of Writing. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.

Conclusion

The MLA Works Cited page serves as a comprehensive list of all sources used in your research paper, providing readers with information about the sources you consulted. By understanding the basic components and formatting guidelines outlined above, you can create an accurate and well-organized Works Cited page that showcases your academic integrity.